US envoy says Iran's preconditions led to rejection of Hormuz proposal
US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said Tehran's preconditions, including lifting sanctions and access to billions in frozen assets, were behind Washington's rejection of Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran presented the initiative at the UN General Assembly in New York and sent it to Washington via Qatari mediators; Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said approval would start a seven-day countdown to reopen the strait and halt fighting in the region, including Lebanon. President Masoud Pezeshkian said the proposal was coordinated with the Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, while Trump said he expected more talks with Iran during the week and left open resuming strikes.
Why it matters: The bargaining links the reopening of an energy chokepoint to sanctions relief and frozen assets, placing the briefing's sanctions and energy-security theme at the centre of US-Iran negotiations.