Trump mocks Iran with ‘Trump Strait’ post after rejecting seven-day ceasefire deal

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump mocked Iran on Truth Social, posting a picture labeled the "Trump Strait" soon after he shot down a seven-day ceasefire proposal. He reportedly told his aides he expects US bombing to pick up again after the November midterms.

He rejected an offer from Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and return to nuclear talks. Just thirty minutes after his decision went public, he posted the "Trump Strait" image, much like he once joked about renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and Lake Ontario as Lake America. The proposed ceasefire would have seen the US lift its blockade of Iranian ports, a move that could've helped Iran’s struggling economy, but Trump refuses to ease the pressure.

Trump reportedly expects to resume strikes after midterms

Trump is skeptical about Iran meeting his demands and has reportedly told staff that another bombing campaign is likely slated for after the midterm elections, the outlet reported.

The nature of the renewed strikes on Iran remains unknown, with the US' diminishing reserve munitions being taken into consideration after months of war in Iran, according to the Wall Street Journal. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday, Sept 25, that carrying out the first parts of the rejected proposal would have taken just four or five days, the Associated Press reported.

The plan called for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the passageway for about one-fifth of the world’s traded oil, on the sixth day. Then, on the last day, US and Iranian officials would sit down for talks again.

Iran signals it's not in a rush

Araghchi indicated Tehran would prefer a resolution before the midterms but isn't desperate to reach one. "But it depends on the US administration to decide," he added. "We are not in a hurry."

Under the suggested proposal, the strait would open on the sixth day. Talks with the US would resume on the final day of the deal. 

Trump said Tuesday that he believed a deal would be struck "right after the election because it doesn't make sense for them not to."

"They're waiting to see how I do in the midterm election," Trump said. "What they don't realize is that I'm not running."

Trump also mused at the UN that he had a "big decision to make" with regard to the Middle Eastern country's future. 

"Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before? Maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world?" Trump said. 

"Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?" he continued.

Fighting in the Strait of Hormuz has driven up global oil prices, which means higher gas prices at home, bad news for Americans and a growing headache for politicians as the November elections approach.

The conflict has dragged on since February 28, when joint US-Israeli airstrikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump hasn’t officially renamed the Strait of Hormuz yet, despite what he posted on social media last Friday.