The U.S. government made clear it is rejecting Iran's proposal to partially open the Strait of Hormuz as a condition for ending the war. As Iran sought to seize control over an international waterway amid stalled cease-fire talks, the United States warned it would never allow that, signaling a hard-line confrontation.
On the 28th (local time), according to major foreign media including The Times of Israel, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on the 27th on Fox News that "we will never accept Iran maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz and possessing nuclear weapons." Earlier, Iran first conveyed to the United States through Pakistan a compromise to open the strait and end the war while postponing negotiations on the core issue of its nuclear program.
Minister Rubio drew a line, saying, "If what Iran calls 'opening the strait' means they will blow up ships unless they get authorization and collect tolls, that is not opening." He added, "The waters in question are clearly an international waterway," and said, "We cannot allow a system to become routine in which Iranian authorities decide who uses the waterway."
White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt also said on the 27th that U.S. President Donald Trump discussed Iran's proposal with his aides, but added, "I would not say we are reviewing it. There are simply discussions," signaling a negative stance.
The United States said the biggest reason cease-fire talks are deadlocked is severe factional strife within the Iranian regime. Minister Rubio noted, "Iran's negotiating team is in the frustrating position of having to conduct fierce prior consultations with its own factions on what to propose and agree to." Even so, he assessed that Iran is showing a fairly serious attitude toward reaching a deal due to successive destruction of military facilities and economic hardships. In contrast, Ebrahim Azizi, a key figure in Iran's military and the chair of the National Security Committee, on the 27th did not back down from defending control, saying a new bill is being prepared in parliament to forcibly block passage of hostile nations' vessels and collect tolls in the national currency, the rial.
As the tug-of-war between the two countries drags on, discontent among Western allies and global economic anxiety are also surging. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the 27th sharply criticized the U.S. government for failing to find an exit strategy, saying of the U.S. delegation's withdrawal from Pakistan without results, "Iranian authorities are openly mocking the United States." Meanwhile, on heightened geopolitical risks, international oil prices broke above $100 per barrel, hitting a two-week record high.
Sensing crisis, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the 28th convened an emergency security meeting (COBR) to review with Bank of England experts the economic ripple effects of a prolonged war.