U.S. President Donald Trump left open the possibility of further military action against Iran as soon as Sunday, while reports differed over whether Tehran had made a new offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Asked about the timing of a possible attack Saturday, Trump said action could come “maybe tomorrow.” He also said Iran wanted a deal and questioned whether Tehran would honor it, but did not say the deal concerned reopening the strait.
The Associated Press reported that Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, said Tehran had sent a conditional reopening message through Pakistan: the waterway would reopen if Washington lifted its naval blockade.
Later, Tasnim News Agency, in a report relayed by Press TV, cited an unnamed informed source denying that Iran had sent a new proposal to Pakistan. The source said an existing seven-day plan had already been conveyed to the United States and rejected reports that Iran had proposed reopening the strait in exchange for lifting the blockade.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Oct. 18 that the seven-day plan had been presented to Washington and remained available. He described reopening the strait on the sixth day, followed by resumed negotiations the next day if the United States met Iran’s conditions.
