Iranian officials indicated on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, that they have received an official U.S. response to a proposal aimed at ending the seven-month war. The announcement follows a public rejection of Tehran's recent offer by U.S. President Donald Trump, though indirect negotiations involving Qatari and Pakistani mediators have continued.
The current conflict began in late February 2026. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently traveled to New York for the U.N. General Assembly, where he floated a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within one week. In exchange, Iran requested that the U.S. lift its blockade of Iranian ports, release frozen assets, and waive sanctions on Iranian oil sales.
On Wednesday, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani stated that Araghchi presented the U.S. response to President Masoud Pezeshkian during a Cabinet meeting. While officials did not disclose the contents of the response, Pezeshkian stated that any agreement must be based on a \"win-win strategy.\" An official briefed on the talks said that while both sides largely agree on the necessary steps, they remain in disagreement over the sequence of those actions.
Amid these negotiations, the U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday announced new sanctions under \"Operation Economic Outcast.\" The measures target 10 individuals and entities in Iran, Hong Kong, and Pakistan accused of procuring weapons components for Iran’s defense ministry. Simultaneously, Iran’s economy continues to decline, with the rial reaching a record low of 2.5 million to the U.S. dollar on Tuesday, down from 2.2 million on September 2.
In Iran, the economic impact is represented by the rial's decline since the war began in February. This decline, coupled with a crackdown following anti-government protests in January, has resulted in thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of arrests according to rights groups. On Wednesday, September 30, the Iranian government executed two men in Mashhad for their alleged roles in the January unrest, following a Supreme Court ruling.
For U.S. voters and politicians, the war’s impact is reflected in fuel prices and political rhetoric ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. President Trump now suggests the war may not conclude until after the elections. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a 26-page letter on Tuesday urging U.S. voters to oppose Trump's allies. The next steps depend on Iran's review of the U.S. response and the ongoing mediation efforts by Qatar and Pakistan.