President Donald Trump on Saturday publicly rejected Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and move toward ending the months-long conflict, while U.S. officials say he has privately told aides that he expects American strikes against Iran to resume following the November midterm elections.

“I’m rejecting their deal,” Trump told reporters outside the White House before departing for Tennessee.

“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine,” Trump said, adding that he also wants a deal but that the Iranian proposal “would not be acceptable.”

Trump argued that Tehran is seeking an agreement because of the severe economic pressure it is facing and again asserted that the United States has control over the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the Journal, citing U.S. officials, Trump has also told aides that he currently expects the U.S. bombing campaign against Iran to resume after the November midterm elections. The extent of any potential strikes has not been determined, and officials cautioned that Trump’s position could change in the coming weeks.

The Iranian proposal would establish a seven-day process aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restarting negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran could restore normal maritime traffic through the strategic waterway within seven days if Washington accepted the proposal.

Under the plan, the United States would lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, waive sanctions on Iranian oil sales, release approximately $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets and observe a ceasefire that would extend to regional fighting, including in Lebanon and Yemen.

In return, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program.

Araghchi said the initial steps could be completed within four to five days. The strait would reopen on the sixth day, followed on the seventh day by negotiations between Iran and the United States toward a broader agreement.

Iran had transmitted its proposal to Washington through mediators, with Tehran publicly calling on the Trump administration to return to diplomacy.

The latest proposal follows months of intermittent diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran as the conflict has severely disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.

Trump said Saturday that Iran wants the waterway reopened because of the economic pressure created by the restrictions on shipping and Iranian exports.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump remains skeptical that Tehran will ultimately agree to U.S. demands. Washington has also told Iran and mediators that Trump does not currently intend to lift the maritime blockade.

The newspaper reported that the administration continues to weigh diplomatic, economic and military options as it considers its next steps.

The scope of any renewed military campaign remains unclear. The Journal reported that Trump is reluctant to return to a large-scale bombing campaign in part because Washington wants to preserve munitions for other potential contingencies.

Trump’s position could still change before the midterm elections, according to the report.

Iran, meanwhile, had said it was awaiting an official American response to its proposal. Trump’s comments Saturday marked his first direct public rejection of the plan.

(YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated on Motzei Yom Tov in Israel)