Trump rejects Iranian ceasefire proposal, leans toward resuming strikes after midterm elections

President Donald Trump has rejected an Iranian proposal for a seven-day ceasefire and told a number of his aides that he leans toward resuming airstrikes on Iran after the midterm elections scheduled for next November, according to American officials cited by The Wall Street Journal.

Reports did not specify additional details about the nature of the Iranian proposal or the channels through which messages were exchanged between Washington and Tehran, while no immediate official comment was issued from the White House or the Iranian side on this information.

This development comes amid continuing escalation between the United States and Iran, with reports indicating that the American president prefers to delay any de-escalation until after the domestic electoral deadline — a position that may keep the situation in the region tense in the coming weeks.

Regional and international parties are expected to closely monitor any subsequent official American or Iranian statements regarding the rejected proposal, at a time when calls for de-escalation in the Gulf region are intensifying.