TEHRAN, Iran (FN), Iran on Sunday rejected calls for a temporary ceasefire in the Gulf, escalating tensions as U.S. President Donald Trump set a deadline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil shipments.
Iranian officials dismissed the proposal as “unacceptable,” insisting that any agreement must address what they described as U.S. aggression in the region. The move comes amid heightened military activity near the strait, where recent clashes have disrupted shipping routes and raised fears of a broader conflict.
Trump, speaking from Washington, warned that the United States would take “decisive action” if the strait is not reopened by the deadline he set, though he did not specify what measures would follow. The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to international waters, handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil trade.
The standoff has drawn international concern, with European and Asian governments urging restraint and calling for renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.
