Washington closed two doors on Sep 26

The day’s decisive moves came from Washington, and both narrowed diplomatic openings rather than widened them. Asked about Iran’s offer to reopen Hormuz within seven days if the US lifts its blockade and oil sanctions, Trump said ‘I reject their proposal,’ arguing Iran wants the strait opened ‘because they’re losing so badly’; the WSJ reported he expects to resume bombing after the November midterms, and Pezeshkian said Iran has ‘no trust in the American side’ — AFP, Al Jazeera, WSJ. The same day Trump declined to confirm Zelensky’s account of a ‘final decision’ to license Patriot production in Ukraine, saying he wants him to settle with Putin — CNN. Neither war paused. Russia sent 173 drones overnight into Sep 26 (134 downed), then struck in daylight: 2 killed in Zaporizhzhia and glide bombs killing 2 and injuring 23 in Sumy; Kyiv’s final toll from Sep 25 stands at 7 killed and 59 injured. Ukraine hit the Ilsky refinery in Krasnodar Krai, and Reuters reported the Perm refinery halted after last week’s strike. Ukraine’s General Staff puts Russian losses at 1,527,280 (+1,710). At the UN, Lavrov said Europe is doing everything to disrupt peace talks, per TASS, and met German FM Wadephul in the first such meeting since 2022. Houthi missiles aimed at Khamis Mushait and drones at Riyadh were intercepted. In the Levant, the Gaza Health Ministry’s toll passed 74,000, with 1,415 killed since the ceasefire (WAFA), and IDF chief Zamir declared a ‘new phase’ of operations in south Lebanon. In Sudan, the army resumed air raids on Nyala as RSF drones hit El-Obeid, including a shelter where local authorities say 2 were killed. Ethiopia’s northern fighting continues, with flights to Lalibela suspended. Beijing says the US and Chinese militaries will sign a crisis-communication memorandum ‘as soon as possible,’ which Washington has not confirmed.