Middle East Situation Tracker: Trump Rejects 7-Day Ceasefire Proposal, Plans to Resume Bombing; Iranian President Issues Moderate Statement Willing to Push for Negotiations

Here’s a roundup of the latest developments in the Middle East: Peace talks: According to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. officials said President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s proposed seven-day ceasefire plan and told aides he expects to resume bombing Iran after the November midterm elections. A knowledgeable official revealed that the U.S. has informed Iran and mediators that Trump has no intention of lifting the maritime embargo. Iranian Foreign Minister: Iran is willing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, but has put forward relevant conditions; the strait will open once the U.S. accepts the seven-day plan. U.S. officials (on the seven-day plan): The U.S. is holding active, constructive discussions with Iran via intermediaries, and both sides continue to communicate on nuclear issues. Al Jazeera reported that U.S.-Iran negotiations have entered the technical consultation phase, but Iranian media Fars News cited Iranian sources as saying the report is "untrue". Iranian President: Supports the resumption of the memorandum of understanding, which will create conditions for substantive negotiations. He also stated that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons and is willing to advance negotiations with the U.S. Senior Iranian official: Even if the U.S. accepts Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will not make concessions on its nuclear program. Strait of Hormuz: Preliminary data shows the number of commercial vessels passing through the strait has dropped to single digits. U.S. officials noted that nearly 40 million barrels of crude oil pass through the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. and Iran are holding active discussions via mediators. The Pakistani Prime Minister called for the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to remain open.