Archive · 28 Sep 2026
US Rejects Iran Proposal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
The United States says Iran offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for seven days.
The US says Iran wanted sanctions removed and access to frozen money first.
American Ambassador Mike Waltz said Iran wanted these benefits before serious talks about its nuclear programme.
He called the offer unacceptable and possibly a strategic move.
Waltz said the United States still needs some kind of agreement with Iran.
He also said the US is keeping other choices available.
Iran’s foreign minister disagreed with the American description of the proposal.
The two countries therefore have different accounts of what Iran offered.
US Ambassador Mike Waltz said Washington rejected Iran’s seven-day proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Waltz said Iran sought sanctions relief and access to billions of dollars in frozen assets before nuclear negotiations.
He described the proposal as a cynical attempt to make an unacceptable offer and said the US would keep all options open.
Waltz said global sanctions and multiple UN Security Council resolutions concern Iran’s nuclear programme.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi disputed Waltz’s account of the proposal in a later interview.
- Who
- The United States, Iran, US Ambassador Mike Waltz, and Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi.
- What
- The United States rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to Waltz.
- When
- The statements were made on Sunday.
- Where
- The comments were made in interviews on CNN’s "State of the Union" and NBC’s "Meet the Press"; the proposal concerned the Strait of Hormuz.
- Why
- Waltz said Iran requested sanctions relief and access to billions of dollars in frozen assets before negotiations on its nuclear programme.
US Account
Iranian Account
What Iran proposed
US Account
Mike Waltz said Iran offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for seven days only while seeking sanctions relief and access to billions in frozen assets before negotiations.
Iranian Account
Seyyed Abbas Araghchi disputed Waltz’s account, but the article does not provide Iran’s detailed version of the proposal.
Purpose of the proposal
US Account
Waltz described it as a cynical attempt to put forward terms that Iran knew the United States would reject.
Iranian Account
Iran rejected the US ambassador’s characterization of its proposal.
- Proposal duration
- Seven days
- US position
- The United States rejected the proposal.
- Iran’s reported requests
- Access to billions of dollars in frozen funds and lifting of sanctions.
- US assessment
- Mike Waltz called the proposal a cynical attempt to make an unacceptable offer.
- Nuclear issue
- The dispute is linked to negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.
- Iranian response
- Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi disputed Waltz’s account.