Trump expects renewed Iran talks this week after rejecting Tehran ceasefire proposal

Negotiations expected after rejected proposal

Donald Trump stated that he expects American negotiators to resume indirect talks with Iran during the week of 28 September 2026, shortly after dismissing a proposal from Tehran to resolve the ongoing conflict. In a telephone interview with Axios, Trump explained that while Iranian authorities desire a negotiated settlement, the conditions they presented do not align with American goals.

I expect more talks with Iran. They want to make a deal, but it is not the deal that I want to make. It is what we would have maybe agreed to a year ago. They overplayed their hand.

When asked if the United States is evaluating the resumption of military strikes against Iranian targets, Trump affirmed that the possibility remains under active consideration.

I am always thinking about it.

Two regional officials familiar with the discussions confirmed that indirect diplomatic contact could resume as early as Monday, 28 September 2026.

Shuttle diplomacy in New York

The push for renewed dialogue follows indirect talks held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, 22 September 2026. United States special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner engaged in indirect negotiations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, with Qatari diplomats relaying messages between the delegations. On Thursday, 24 September 2026, the Prime Minister of Qatar met with the Iranian president in New York to discuss the parameters of a potential agreement before senior Qatari officials briefed Witkoff. Tehran stated that it continues to await a formal, official response from Washington regarding its proposal, maintaining that it will not modify its core stance. Regional mediators from Qatar have continued shuttle diplomacy across the weekend to prevent a total breakdown of communication.

Stalled terms and nuclear conditions

Disagreements between Washington and Tehran center on the scope of the negotiations and reciprocal concessions. Iran proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz for seven days and restarting broader nuclear discussions within a week, conditioned on the United States lifting its naval blockade, removing sanctions on Iranian oil exports, and reinstating a regional ceasefire. Trump rejected those terms on Saturday, 26 September 2026, prioritizing binding nuclear concessions over temporary maritime arrangements. While Iranian negotiators seek to focus primarily on maritime access and blockade relief, the Trump administration insists that any durable pact must resolve outstanding nuclear questions. Mediators note that bridging the substantive distance between the two agendas remains the central challenge for upcoming sessions.

Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz

Despite the diplomatic impasse and the naval blockade, crude oil continues to move through the Strait of Hormuz under military coordination. Trump noted that the United States military is facilitating substantial petroleum flows through the corridor, stating that more than 20 million barrels passed through over the weekend. A United States defense official corroborated that claim, confirming that 22 million barrels of oil were exported through the waterway on Friday night alone. Trump characterized the weekend transit as the largest volume of oil moved through the strait since the outbreak of the war. Security operations around the corridor remain active as both governments prepare for potential indirect meetings in the coming days.