Delivery of the American response

Iran announced on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, that it received a formal response from the United States to its proposal for ending the Middle East war. Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani told the state news agency IRNA that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi presented the American document to President Masoud Pezeshkian during a cabinet session. The indirect exchange came after diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran resumed last week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, following more than seven months of conflict. Iranian authorities confirmed the arrival of the formal text via Qatari intermediaries, though officials in Tehran did not publicly disclose the specific contents of Washington's counter-proposal.

Framework of the seven-day proposal

The United States response follows a seven-day de-escalation framework that Araghchi unveiled on Friday in New York. Tehran submitted seven conditions aimed at ending hostilities and restoring normal maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The initiative called for an immediate regional ceasefire across all Middle East fronts, including Lebanon where Israeli military forces are engaged in combat against pro-Iranian Hezbollah. Tehran also demanded the release of Iranian assets frozen in foreign bank accounts, the lifting of economic sanctions on its crude oil sector, and the removal of the United States naval blockade restricting Iranian commercial ports. In exchange, Iran offered to restore maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and enter final negotiations, including discussions on its nuclear program, on the seventh day. Araghchi explained that Tehran conveyed the proposal through Qatar, suggesting that progress was possible if the American side demonstrated seriousness about reaching an accord.

Leadership reactions and diplomatic friction

The delivery of the written response follows public comments by United States President Donald Trump shortly after Tehran presented its plan. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Trump acknowledged Iran's interest in an agreement while rejecting the specific terms presented by Tehran.

“They want to make a deal, which is great, I like deals. But that deal would not be acceptable.”

Iranian officials responded to Trump's public dismissal with skepticism while awaiting the formal diplomatic channel. General Mohsen Rezaei, who heads Iran's Supreme National Security Council, asserted that the United States administration faces a strategic impasse and described the American president as incapable of making decisive choices.

“Trump is stuck in a quagmire in which he can neither negotiate nor fight.”

President Pezeshkian addressed the broader maritime dispute separately in a World Maritime Day message carried by IRNA. He stated that durable security in the Persian Gulf and its waterways requires direct cooperation among regional states, describing the Strait of Hormuz as an essential corridor for international commerce and asserting that Iran maintains a responsible approach toward the waterway.

Context of the seven-month confrontation

The diplomatic exchange follows more than seven months of armed conflict that began when the United States and Israel launched military operations in Iran in late February 2026. In retaliation, Tehran shut down navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the United States to impose a naval blockade on Iranian commercial ports months later to restrict crude oil exports. On the ground, direct hostilities have moderated, with the United States conducting no strikes on Iranian territory since 1 September 2026, although commercial ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz face regular targeting. Alongside naval measures, Washington has maintained economic pressure against Tehran by blacklisting all Iranian airlines and warning foreign companies against providing commercial assistance to Iranian carriers.