Trump rejects Iran’s Hormuz deal as Houthis target Riyadh
Washington: US President Donald Trump said he rejected a deal from Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as Saudi Arabia’s capital came under attack from Yemen’s Houthis over the weekend.
“They made a proposal but I rejected it,” Trump said as he departed the White House on Saturday (Washington time).
“They want to make a deal where they open the strait immediately because they’re losing so badly.”
Donald Trump on Saturday said he rejected the latest plan and argued that desperation drove the Iranians’ push for an agreement on the key waterway.AP Photo/Rod LamkeyTrump added that the US naval blockade in Hormuz was putting increasing economic pressure on Iran.
US and Iranian negotiators had been exploring a deal that would see Tehran reopen the Strait of Hormuz and Washington lift its blockade of Iranian ports, a person familiar with the matter said.
The pact would have been similar to the memorandum of understanding the two countries reached in mid-June, which led to a fragile ceasefire that collapsed weeks later.
On Saturday, Saudi-backed coalition forces in Yemen said air defences intercepted two drones launched by the Houthis towards Riyadh, as well as a ballistic missile targeting the southern border area of Khamis Mushait.
The country’s civil defence said alerts of potential danger were also issued in Abha and Jazan overnight.
Air raid alerts were issued for Riyadh’s residents a week ago in the first such instance since the height of hostilities during March and April. Air defences intercepted missiles headed towards the Saudi capital.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US-led effort to strangle Iran economically was bearing fruit, praising the United Kingdom, Turkey, Oman and the United Arab Emirates for their co-operation.
“We will continue working together as there is more to be done to prevent Tehran from carrying out its terrorist agenda,” he said Saturday in a post on X.
Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump expected to resume the US bombing campaign against Iran after US midterm elections in early November and was sceptical about Iran’s willingness to meet his demands.
Trump declined to answer a question about whether he would resume bombing after the midterms.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, said his country wouldn’t allow freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz while sanctions and a US blockade remained in place.
The Islamic Republic wouldn’t give up the right to develop nuclear technology for economic purposes either, he added.
Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
You have reached your maximum number of saved items.
Remove items from your saved list to add more.
