TEHRAN / WASHINGTON – In a significant diplomatic move aimed at de-escalating the two-month-old conflict in the Middle East, Iran has officially offered to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping. However, the proposal was swiftly met with a firm rejection from U.S. President Donald Trump, who insists that any deal must first address Tehran's nuclear program.

The Iranian Proposal: Trade for Transit

According to diplomatic sources, the Iranian government passed a written proposal through Pakistani mediators on Monday. The offer outlines a "two-phase" approach to ending the current maritime standoff:

• Phase One: Iran would immediately restore full, unrestricted access to the Strait of Hormuz for all international vessels. In exchange, the United States must lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports and cease military actions against Iranian infrastructure.

  • Phase Two: Discussions regarding the "larger question" of Iran's nuclear program and ballistic missile development would be postponed to a later date.

• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, currently in St. Petersburg for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stated that the U.S. blockade is an "act of war" and claimed that Washington is negotiating from a "weakened position" due to soaring global energy prices.

  

  Trump’s Firm Rejection: "No Deal Without Nuclear Terms"

  The White House confirmed that President Trump met with national security aides late Monday to review the offer but remains "unsatisfied." Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified the administration's stance, emphasizing that the nuclear threat is the "central issue" that cannot be sidelined.

  "There is no doubt that if this regime remains in charge, they will sprint toward a nuclear weapon," Rubio stated. "Any agreement must definitively prevent that. We are not interested in buying time for Tehran while they continue their enrichment activities."

  Trump has reportedly told advisors that the U.S. currently "holds all the cards" due to the effectiveness of the naval blockade, which has crippled Iran’s oil exports. The President maintains that the blockade is not a "blockade against global commerce," but a targeted measure against "Iranian-linked shipping" and illegal tolls.

  Global Impact and Escalation Risks

  The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most vital energy artery, with approximately 20% of global oil and LNG passing through it. The current closure and subsequent U.S. counter-blockade have led to:

  • Skyrocketing Oil Prices: Crude prices extended gains Tuesday as markets reacted to the diplomatic deadlock.

  • Stranded Seafarers: The International Maritime Organization (IMO) reports nearly 20,000 sailors remain stranded in the Gulf region.

    
    

  • International Pressure: Allies such as the UK and France have called for de-escalation, while China and Russia have condemned the U.S. blockade as "irresponsible and dangerous."