President Donald J. Trump has rejected an Iranian proposal for a seven day ceasefire and privately told aides he expects to resume bombing Iran after the November midterms, according to U.S. officials who spoke to The Wall Street Journal. Publicly, President Trump says Iran is "begging" for a deal that would dismantle its nuclear program while privately, officials say he's skeptical Tehran will actually meet his terms.
Iran's proposal, floated Sunday in Qatar according to people familiar with the matter, would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restart nuclear talks in exchange for the U.S. lifting its naval blockade, unfreezing some Iranian assets, and easing oil export sanctions. U.S. officials say the U.S. has no intention of lifting the blockade, betting continued economic pressure will force Tehran into a more favorable deal.
Any specific level of renewed strikes hasn't been determined, and officials say Trump is reluctant to resume major operations partly to preserve depleted munitions stockpiles. Arab mediators say Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has effectively run the country since the war began in February, is rejecting new terms and wants to return to elements of a preliminary deal President Trump struck with Iran in June.
At the UN General Assembly this week, President Trump said, "I gave absolutely no credence and will not give credence through the election when it comes to Iran," adding that his only goal is ensuring "Iran will never have a nuclear weapon."
