President Donald Trump said that he rejected a new ceasefire proposal from Iran that would have opened the Strait of Hormuz.

“They want to make a deal, and that’s fine, I like making a deal too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said to reporters outside the White House on Sept. 26 before headed to a football game in Tennessee.

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Iran proposed the diplomatic agreement at the United National General Assembly this week, hoping that a seven day pause on military action and reopening the Strait could be achieved. Trump, though, said that Iran “outsmarted themselves” by closing the strategic waterway and that Iran is “dying” because they “have no money coming in.”

Trump speaks before world leaders at the UN General Assembly

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US President Donald Trump addresses the 81st United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 22, 2026.

Trump’s speech comes as U.S. allies are increasingly united in their conviction that America can’t be counted on as a reliable partner. Trump asked world leaders to join in isolating Iran economically, to discourage Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and attacks on commercial shipping.

(Mike Segar, REUTERS)

Trump said that the US is “winning tremendously” and that “massive amounts of oil are coming out of the Hormuz Strait” after he enacted “the greatest blockade ever in military history.”

The Wall Street Journal reported on Sept. 25 that Trump denied a proposal that included opening the Strait of Hormuz, resuming nuclear talks and lifting the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. The reporting said that Trump is privately skeptical that Iran would meet his demands, but the president did not tell reporters outside the White House exactly why he decided to decline this new offer.

“IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!!!” Trump said on Truth Social on Saturday morning.

Earlier this week at the UN General Assembly meeting, Trump told the crowd of delegates from countries around the world that he had “a very good” meeting with Iran but then threatened to annihilate the country.

More: Trump threatens to ‘annihilate’ Iran, says Cuba ‘will fall’

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump rejects Iran ceasefire proposal for Hormuz