Trump expects more Iran talks this week after rejecting Hormuz proposal

President Trump told Axios on Sunday he expects U.S. negotiators to hold more indirect talks with Iran this week, a day after he publicly rejected Tehran's plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC that Iran still awaits a formal reply through mediators and remains ready for diplomacy or war.

By US Brief desk · Updated 2026-09-27T12:10:00-07:00

Satellite view of the Strait of Hormuz and the Musandam Peninsula from the International Space Station

Editor’s note: Sunday Trump quotes, oil-transit claim, mediator timeline, and regional-source reporting follow Axios (Barak Ravid), Sep 27, 2026. Araghchi and U.N. Ambassador Mike Waltz quotes follow NBC News Meet the Press coverage (Freddie Clayton), Sep 27, 2026, 10:08 a.m. EDT. Washington Post same-day wrap confirms both sides still see a negotiated path. A U.S. defense official's confirmation of Friday-night oil volumes is Axios's attribution, not an independent US Brief count. Whether Monday meetings occur and whether gaps can be bridged remains unverified.

President Donald Trump said Sunday he expects U.S. negotiators to hold more indirect talks with Iran this week, a day after he publicly rejected Tehran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — even as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran still awaits a formal reply through mediators and is prepared either for diplomacy or a resumed fight.

What Trump told Axios: In a phone interview, Trump said, "I expect more talks with Iran [this week]. 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." Asked whether he is considering resuming strikes, he said, "I am always thinking about it." Axios reported that two regional sources confirmed the expectation of another round of indirect dialogue as early as Monday, while cautioning it is unclear whether the gaps can be bridged.

Where the sides differ: Axios said Iran wants any talks focused on the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. naval blockade, while the Trump administration is demanding nuclear concessions. Last Tuesday in New York, U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held indirect talks with Araghchi via Qatari mediators on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. Iran proposed reopening the strait and restarting nuclear talks within a week if Washington lifts the blockade, removes sanctions on oil sales, and reinstates a regional ceasefire — terms Trump rejected Saturday.

Oil transit claim: Trump told Axios the U.S. military is facilitating oil out of the strait and that over the weekend the largest amount since the war began had moved through — "more than 20 million barrels." A U.S. defense official confirmed to Axios that on Friday night 22 million barrels of oil were exported through the strait. That figure is attributed to those sources; US Brief has no independent tally.

Araghchi and Waltz on Meet the Press: Araghchi told NBC's Kristen Welker that Iran is "fully prepared for the war to be resumed" and would "stand firm in the face of any new aggression, even if it comes to a doomsday war," while also standing "ready for diplomacy." He said Iran still had not received an official rejection through mediators, reiterated demands for release of frozen assets and the ability to sell oil, and said Tehran does not care about U.S. midterm elections. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, appearing earlier on the same program, said the proposal was rejected for "a number of reasons," calling it a "pretty cynical attempt" that sought release of the blockade, international sanctions, and "access to billions in assets," and questioning "who's calling the shots in Iran right now."

Mediator track: A U.S. official and two regional sources told Axios that Qatari mediators are continuing shuttle diplomacy, have floated a compromise text, and are expected to meet separately with Araghchi and Witkoff as early as Monday. The Washington Post likewise reported Sunday that U.S. and Iranian officials still see a chance of a negotiated solution despite Trump's rejection and hostile rhetoric on both sides.

Why it matters: About a fifth of global oil and gas trade usually moved through Hormuz before the war. A public White House signal that talks continue — paired with Iran's insistence that no formal U.S. reply has arrived — shapes Monday's oil open and allied planning even if no breakthrough is in hand. Keeping a military option on the table while mediators draft text raises the risk of miscalculation if shuttle talks stall.

Uncertainty: Anonymous regional sources are not a schedule confirmation. Trump's oil-volume claim rests on one defense official's confirmation to Axios. Whether Qatar's compromise text narrows the nuclear-versus-blockade gap is unknown. Araghchi's "doomsday war" language is rhetoric; it is not evidence of an imminent strike decision.

What's next: Watch for any Monday mediator meetings with Araghchi or Witkoff, a written U.S. reply through Qatar, Monday crude prices, and whether either side resumes strikes while talks are discussed.

Method note: US Brief digests are AI-assisted from the US Brief desk. We synthesize reputable reporting with cited sources; we do not invent quotes, figures, or forecasts.

Follow US Brief: Bluesky · X · RSS

Full interactive version requires JavaScript. https://us-brief.com/article/world-trump-iran-talks-week

National & world Daily briefing

Know what happened.
Know why it matters.

Get clear, sourced briefings on US news, politics, technology, world affairs, finance, and entertainment. Catch up in minutes—no clickbait, no wasted time.

Back to World briefing World

Trump expects more Iran talks this week after rejecting Hormuz proposal

President Trump told Axios on Sunday he expects U.S. negotiators to hold more indirect talks with Iran this week, a day after he publicly rejected Tehran's plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC that Iran still awaits a formal reply through mediators and remains ready for diplomacy or war.

By US Brief desk · Updated 2026-09-27T12:10:00-07:00

AI-assisted digests from the US Brief desk. Synthesizes reputable reporting with cited sources; not a wire service. Corrections welcomed.

Satellite view of the Strait of Hormuz and the Musandam Peninsula from the International Space Station

President Donald Trump said Sunday he expects U.S. negotiators to hold more indirect talks with Iran this week, a day after he publicly rejected Tehran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — even as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran still awaits a formal reply through mediators and is prepared either for diplomacy or a resumed fight.

What Trump told Axios: In a phone interview, Trump said, "I expect more talks with Iran [this week]. 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." Asked whether he is considering resuming strikes, he said, "I am always thinking about it." Axios reported that two regional sources confirmed the expectation of another round of indirect dialogue as early as Monday, while cautioning it is unclear whether the gaps can be bridged.

Like US Brief? You can support it with a tip.