President Trump confirmed Saturday that he rejected Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, directly upgrading the 'reportedly rejected' claim from the previous post [1]. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi had said Friday the choice 'rests with the United States' and that a concrete seven-day plan conveyed via Qatar could restore normal passage within a week of US acceptance [1]. A US official said Washington is 'not in a hurry' and claimed nearly 40 million barrels transited the strait in the prior 48 hours [1]. Iranian President Pezeshkian told Al Jazeera that resolving Hormuz 'is possible through negotiations, not the use of force,' but warned Iran does not 'trust' talks with Washington [1].

Kpler ship-tracking data published Friday shows crude oil flows out of the Gulf via Hormuz at 33.7 million barrels for the week starting September 20, with 19 tankers (17 VLCCs), most laden Saudi crude followed by Iraqi [2]. About 60 commercial vessels of all types transited on September 24, the highest daily crude volume since early July per a US official [2]. Commodity transits fell to 9 on September 25, with 8 exiting; the 10-day average is 18 against a pre-war baseline of ~125/day [2]. An unknown number of ships sail with transponders off and are not counted [2].

Oil passage through Hormuz remains unconfirmed from independent counts. Insurance-based closure persists; the IMF PortWatch count is stale at 1 transit on September 20. Saudi Arabia's bypass pipeline restarted at low rate September 22 but Yanbu loadings remain suspended; Houthi missiles targeted the Yanbu area and France is sending air defences. Brent settled $104.32 on Friday. One seafarer was killed in the September 23 Cape Dao attack; 85 confirmed incidents and 24 seafarer fatalities since the war began February 28 [1].