President Trump has reportedly turned down Iran’s proposed seven-day cease-fire and expects US bombing operations against the country to resume after the midterm elections.
Under the proposal, Tehran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and return to talks on dismantling its nuclear program if the United States ended its blockade of Iranian ports.
But Trump remains “skeptical” that Iran will accept his conditions and has told aides that the US military will “likely” restart airstrikes after the November elections, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing US officials .
The scope and intensity of any potential strikes remain unclear.
Trump also taunted Iran on Friday night by posting a map of the Persian Gulf on Truth Social, circling the Strait of Hormuz and labeling it “Trump Strait.”
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly earlier this week, Trump warned that he could choose to “annihilate” Iran if stalled peace talks failed to produce an agreement.
The president has previously threatened to destroy “civilization” in Iran and target the country’s bridges and energy infrastructure, although he has largely refrained from carrying out attacks of that scale.
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Iran raised the possibility of a weeklong cease-fire during a Sunday meeting with mediators in Qatar, according to the outlet.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters at the UN in New York that Tehran had formally presented the seven-day offer to Washington.
In addition to lifting the naval blockade, Iran is seeking US sanctions relief and the release of some frozen Iranian assets.
A White House official told Reuters earlier this week that “crushing sanctions” and “one of the most successful blockades in history” had battered Iran’s economy and left the country financially depleted.
The official said Trump was prepared to let the “inevitable Iranian collapse” unfold rather than allow the regime to “play” him.
According to The Wall Street Journal, US officials have told Tehran that Trump has “no intention” of ending the naval blockade.
The White House did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
