CAIRO/UNITED NATIONS: Iran is waiting for a formal U.S. response to its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and stop fighting across the Middle East, after the Wall Street Journal reported that President Donald Trump had rejected the plan.

Iran presented the diplomatic proposal at the UN General Assembly in New York. It said the proposal had been passed to the United States through Qatari mediators. Under the plan, the strategic waterway could be reopened and fighting across the region could be halted within seven days.

However, Trump is privately doubtful that Iran would meet his demands, the Journal reported, citing unnamed U.S. officials. The report said Trump had told his staff that he believed a new U.S. bombing campaign could be likely after the November U.S. midterm elections.

Earlier, a U.S. official described discussions with Iran through mediators as "positive and constructive".

Iran Rejects Pressure

Iran has also been in contact with Saudi Arabia over the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting the importance of the waterway during the seven-month-old conflict. The war has disrupted oil shipments through one of the world's most important shipping routes and has affected the global economy.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told reporters at the United Nations that the proposed agreement would begin a seven-day countdown to reopening the strait and would also lead to a pause in fighting across the region.

"If there is seriousness on the U.S. side to come to a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, everything is now prepared," Araqchi said.

He said that if Washington accepted the proposal, the countries involved in the conflict could begin broader negotiations on issues agreed by both sides.

Those talks could include Iran's nuclear program. Trump has repeatedly said that Iran must not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. However, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran would not change its position on its nuclear program even if the United States accepted the peace proposal.

The Iranian official said Tehran would not give up what it considers its rights, including the ability to enrich uranium or the option of keeping its highly enriched uranium inside the country.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an interview with CBS that Tehran was ready to discuss its nuclear program and other issues. He said Iran would not accept pressure or threats and maintained that the country was not seeking nuclear weapons.

Araqchi said Iran's proposal would stop fighting on all fronts, including in Lebanon. In return, he said, the United States would have to lift its blockade of Iranian ports, release frozen Iranian funds and remove oil sanctions.

War Has Spread Across Region

Earlier diplomatic efforts have failed to bring a lasting end to the conflict, which began on February 28 with U.S. and Israeli attacks.

Since then, the war has moved between periods of reduced fighting and renewed strikes. Thousands of people have been killed, Iran's conventional military capabilities have been weakened, and its already troubled economy has suffered further damage.

Iran and groups allied with it have also expanded the conflict across the region. Iran, which shares control of the Strait of Hormuz with Oman, has launched drones and missiles at U.S. allies in the Middle East.

The Houthis in Yemen, who are backed by Iran, have attacked Saudi interests. Iranian-aligned militias in Iraq have also been blamed for an attack on a pipeline that temporarily reduced the amount of Saudi oil reaching international markets.

In Lebanon, Hezbollah, another Iran-backed group, has continued fighting Israeli forces.

Araqchi also briefed Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on an understanding between Iran and Oman concerning safe shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Foreign Ministry said on September 26.

The expanding conflict has prompted Saudi Arabia's allies to strengthen the kingdom's defenses.

The Saudi-backed, internationally recognized Yemeni government has also faced attacks from Houthi fighters linked to Iran. Houthi missiles have struck targets inside Saudi Arabia as the wider conflict continues.