In brief
On 27 September 2026, Donald Trump publicly rejected an Iranian offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a diplomatic spat. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would await a definitive U.S. response while reminding Washington of the terms in the June memorandum of understanding. President Masoud Pezeshkian urged the United States to abandon interference in Iranian domestic politics and called for phased implementation of the MOU. Omani diplomats and U.S. officials, including ambassador Matthew Whitaker and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, condemned the deal and warned of economic sanctions. The debate underscores the strategic importance of the Hormuz waterway and the high stakes over oil flows and global energy prices.
On 27 September 2026, President Donald Trump publicly rejected a proposal from Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically vital waterway that carries roughly 20 % of the world’s oil and gas transits.
In a brief statement to reporters, Trump called the offer “unacceptable” and asserted that Washington had “total control” of the strait, arguing that keeping it open would inflate global oil prices and burden consumers.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on Telegram that Tehran would wait for a definitive U.S. reply, reminding officials of the memorandum of understanding signed in June. He noted the U.S. had previously made contradictory statements about the deal.
During the same week, President Masoud Pezeshkian travelled to New York for the UN General Assembly, where he warned the U.S. to cease attempts to overthrow Iran’s government and insisted that Iran had the right to negotiate in steps to end the impasse. He also addressed concerns about Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s health following a U.S. strike that killed his father.
Oman, acting as a mediator, urged all parties to maintain open dialogue and cooperate with its officials to safeguard navigation in the waterway. Oman's foreign minister called for backing from the U.N. to preserve free passage.
U.S. ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker defended Trump’s decision, labeling Iran’s offer as “half‑measures” that aimed to cast a good image. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that the economic blockade—dubbed Operation Economic Outcast—would hurt Iran, citing halted flights by Turkey, Oman and the UAE and bank restrictions in those countries.
While the U.S. enforces new sanctions, analysts note that China, the largest buyer of Iranian oil, has largely ignored past U.S. pressure, continuing to maintain trade ties and thus dampening the anticipated impact of the blockade.