President Trump has rejected Iran’s seven-day cease-fire offer and signaled a likely resumption of airstrikes after November’s midterm elections, according to a Friday report.
The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, reported that Trump is “skeptical” Tehran will ultimately accept his demands. The president has told aides it is “likely” the military restarts bombing runs once the midterm contests conclude, though what level of strikes he is planning remains unclear.
Iran floated the temporary truce during a meeting with mediators in Qatar on Sunday. Under the proposal, Tehran pledged to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume negotiations on dismantling its nuclear program in exchange for Washington ending its blockade of Iranian ports.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters at the UN gathering in New York that the seven-day proposal had been formally offered to the US. The regime is also seeking sanctions relief and the unfreezing of some of its assets.
US officials have conveyed to Iran that Trump has “no intention” of lifting the naval blockade, according to the Journal.
A White House official said earlier this week that the “crushing sanctions” and “one of the most successful blockades in history” have crippled Iran’s economy and left the country broke. The official noted that Trump was content to allow the “inevitable Iranian collapse” play out rather than be “played” by the regime.
Trump also took a provocative swipe at Iran on Friday night, sharing a map of the Persian Gulf region on Truth Social with the Strait of Hormuz circled and labeled “Trump Strait.”
In his speech at the United Nations General Assembly earlier this week, Trump warned that with peace negotiations stalled, he could choose to “annihilate” Iran.
The president has previously threatened to destroy “civilization” in Iran and bomb the country’s bridges and energy infrastructure, but has largely stopped short of launching those types of attacks.
The White House did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
Trump’s posture toward Iran has oscillated between threats of massive destruction and dangling the possibility of a negotiated settlement. The midterm timeline now appears to be the pivot point for whatever comes next.
The blockade and sanctions strategy has been the administration’s preferred pressure tool, with officials openly banking on economic collapse to force Tehran’s hand rather than offering concessions at the negotiating table.