Trump Rejects Iran’s Ceasefire Offer, Report Says U.S. Strikes Could Resume After Midterms

President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s proposed seven-day ceasefire and told aides he expects U.S. bombing of Iran to resume after the November midterm elections, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing U.S. officials. The president is reportedly skeptical that Tehran will meet U.S. demands despite continued negotiations through regional mediators. Iran’s proposal called for the U.S. to lift its naval blockade, unfreeze some Iranian assets, and ease sanctions on Iranian oil exports in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming nuclear negotiations. However, the U.S. has told Iran and mediators that Trump does not intend to lift the maritime blockade, and the scope of any renewed U.S. strikes remains unclear, with officials noting that Trump’s position could change as negotiations continue.

The rejection of the ceasefire offer comes as regional tensions continue to escalate, with Turkey and Pakistan meeting with Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on Friday to discuss the threat posed by Iran-backed Houthi attacks on the kingdom and shipping routes. The meeting follows weeks of Houthi missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia and comes under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed last month, which treats an attack against one of the three countries as an attack against all of them. The talks also come as the Houthis expand their presence along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical route for international shipping. Yemen’s vice president warned that maritime security would remain at risk as long as the Houthis operate outside the authority of the country’s government, while several European and Middle Eastern countries have offered military or defensive assistance to support Saudi Arabia. As diplomatic efforts stall and military options remain on the table, the region braces for what could be a prolonged and volatile standoff.