The military conflict between Iran and the United States entered a critical new phase on Sunday as Washington rejected a diplomatic proposal from Tehran to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz. Senior Iranian officials responded by hardening their rhetoric, warning that the country’s armed forces are fully prepared for a renewed American offensive while tightening economic pressures across the region.
Washington Rejects Iranian Proposal for Strait of Hormuz
The diplomatic stalemate deepened after United States President Donald Trump dismissed Tehran’s recent proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as unacceptable. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump asserted that Iranian leaders are seeking an agreement only because they are losing ground under heavy American naval blockages that have severely restricted national revenues.
The rejected proposal, delivered last week to US officials through Qatari mediators during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, outlined a seven-day roadmap. According to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Tehran offered to gradually reopen the strategic maritime route if Washington lifted its naval blockade of Iranian ports, unfroze approximately 10.5 billion euros in Iranian assets, and relaxed strict oil sanctions. Under the plan, initial compliance would take four to five days, leading to full reopening talks by the seventh day.
Despite these indirect contacts, President Trump publicly threatened earlier in the week to annihilate Iran if an agreement was not reached. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian countered in an Al Jazeera interview by stating that Tehran no longer trusts Washington, citing a history of diplomatic overtures followed immediately by new attacks and sanctions.
Tehran Vows to Consolidate Victory and Refuses Pressure
In Tehran, military leadership struck a defiant tone during a Sunday ceremony. The head of the Iranian army, General Amir Hatami, declared that the war is far from over. Although Hatami maintained that Iran considers itself victorious in the conflict thus far, he emphasized that the nation must now focus on consolidating that victory.
“The war is not over,” Hatami told state media, warning that Iranian forces remain ready to respond instantly if the United States resumes airstrikes or military aggression. He reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed to commercial traffic as long as Washington continues its economic warfare against Tehran.
“If Iran cannot do business and cannot live, no one can trade or live,” Hatami said. He also urged regional neighbors to distance themselves from Washington, claiming that cooperation with the United States fails to provide security and demanding the eventual expulsion of American and allied forces from the region.
Advanced Missile Tech and Regional Shipping Disruptions
Military threats extended to technological capabilities and maritime security. Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesperson for the Iranian armed forces, warned that any new aggression would be met with advanced military technology, asserting that Iranian missiles and drones have grown significantly more sophisticated than in earlier phases of the conflict.
Adding to the naval standoff, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy warned it would target American warships—potentially extending operations as far as the Indian Ocean—should Washington re-engage in open warfare, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency.
The economic impact of the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz remains severe. Before the conflict escalated on February 28, a substantial share of global petroleum passed through the narrow waterway daily. Maritime traffic data compiled by Kpler showed that only 17 cargo vessels traversed the strait over the weekend, a sharp decline from the daily average of 125 vessels recorded prior to the outbreak of hostilities.
Parallel to the naval blockade, the United States escalated economic penalties this week by announcing sanctions targeting any international airlines conducting business with Iranian carriers. Consequently, several regional governments, including the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, have restricted or suspended flights involving the two nations as tensions persist.
