‘Because they’re dying’, ‘Now they don’t have money’: Trump reveals why Iran wants Strait of Hormuz reopened | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump on Saturday (Sept 26) rejected Iran’s proposal for a temporary ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran is seeking a deal because it is “losing so badly” in the war with the United States.
“And what they want to do is open the Strait of Hormuz immediately. You know why? Because they’re dying,” Trump said.
“You know why they’re dying? Because they don’t have any money coming in. Because they’re getting their money from the Strait of Hormuz.”
Trump said Iran wanted the strategically vital waterway reopened immediately, but argued that his administration’s naval blockade had deprived Tehran of revenue.
“I rejected their deal,” Trump said. “They want to do a deal where they open the strait immediately because they are losing so badly.
‘We’re winning big’: Trump says US has control over Hormuz
Trump portrayed the situation as a major US military and economic advantage and claimed that Washington had gained control of the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’re winning big. We have total control of the Strait of Hormuz, huge amounts of oil coming out of the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said.
“We had 29 ships come out last night. They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine, I like it too, but that kind of deal wouldn’t be acceptable.”
Trump also accused Tehran of miscalculating when it decided to restrict traffic on the waterway.
“So they outsmarted themselves. They said, ‘We’re going to shut it down and cause a problem for the world.’ And then I came in and we did the biggest blockade ever in military history. It’s a steel wall,” he said.
Trump said his administration effectively turned Iran’s attempt to restrict the waterway against Tehran.
“I would put it up and guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait. And I said, ‘That’s fine, we’ll close it for you. But everybody else can use it,'” Trump said.
Iran proposes seven-day plan to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Trump’s comments came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had offered a seven-day plan under which Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume talks on its nuclear program.
The proposal would require Washington to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, waive sanctions on Iranian oil sales and agree to a cease-fire that would also extend to Lebanon.
Araghchi outlined the proposal during the UN General Assembly in New York.
“Through intermediaries, we presented a plan to the United States that if certain conditions were met, the Strait of Hormuz would be opened at the end of the seventh day and talks would resume,” Araghchi said.
He added that it would be preferable to reach an agreement before the US midterm elections.
Araghchi said the proposal is similar to a memorandum of understanding signed between Washington and Tehran in June.
Pezeshkian blames Trump for the collapse of an earlier deal
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian separately accused Trump and Washington of failing to implement an earlier deal.
In an interview with Fox News, Pezeshkian said Tehran had reached an agreement with Trump, but accused the US of leaving the framework before taking military action.
“We have reached an agreement with your president; that agreement has been signed and based on that, we are willing and still wish to move forward,” Pezeshkian said.
He argued that Iran did not initially close the Strait of Hormuz and said that the subsequent US military action undermined diplomacy.
“We are ready,” Pezeshkian said, while reiterating Iran’s willingness to negotiate.
Trump calls US action ‘biggest blockade ever’
Trump said the U.S. response effectively prevented Iran from benefiting from its attempt to restrict the waterway.
“I said, ‘that’s fine, we’ll close it in front of you. But everybody else can use it,'” Trump said.
Trump’s comments came as the White House claimed that US officials were engaged in “positive and constructive” talks with mediators regarding the Iran war.
Earlier in the week, Iran and the United States engaged in hours of indirect talks.
Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters
The Strait of Hormuz has become a central pressure point of the conflict because of its importance to global energy transport.
Iran effectively closed the waterway following US and Israeli strikes against the Islamic Republic in late February. Shipping traffic subsequently declined sharply due to threats and attacks on vessels in and around the strait.
The disruption has put the waterway at the center of a confrontation between Washington and Tehran, with Iran seeking to exploit its strategic position while the US seeks to maintain access for international shipping.
Trump posted a picture of “Trump Strait”.
Before Saturday’s rejection of the Iranian proposal, Trump posted an image on Truth Social showing the Strait of Hormuz labeled “Trump’s Strait.”
The post came as Tehran sought to reopen the waterway as part of its proposed seven-day plan.
Despite Trump’s rejection of the current proposal, the White House’s statement of ongoing “positive and constructive” talks suggests that indirect diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran are continuing.
Read also | Trump warns Xi against backing Iran – China gives conflicting assurances
