Day 106 - Saturday, September 26, 2026 - 38 days to November 3

Yesterday I told you Iran's seven-day roadmap was an offer, not a deal (Day 105 (https://travisjackstevens.com/news/araghchi-seven-day-hormuz-offer-not-a-deal)). Now we have the answer, on the record.

"I reject their proposal," President Trump told reporters outside the White House on Saturday, before leaving for Tennessee (Al Jazeera (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/26/trump-rejects-irans-seven-day-roadmap-to-reopen-strait-of-hormuz)). Late Friday, The Wall Street Journal had already reported, citing unnamed U.S. officials, that he would rule out Iran's plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week (Reuters (https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-awaits-us-move-after-wsj-report-says-trump-rejects-peace-plan-2026-09-26/), Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/26/trump-dismiss-iran-seven-day-peace-deal-hormuz)). Saturday, he said it himself.

So be clear about where that leaves us. An offer was made. It was never a deal, and now it has been refused. The strait did not reopen. No ceasefire started. Araghchi's own terms said the clock would only start once Washington accepted (Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/26/trump-dismiss-iran-seven-day-peace-deal-hormuz)), and Washington said no. Iran's president told Al Jazeera the same day that Tehran no longer trusts negotiations with the United States (Al Jazeera (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/26/trump-rejects-irans-seven-day-roadmap-to-reopen-strait-of-hormuz)).

What we got on the record is one sentence. A U.S. official told Al Jazeera that Washington is in no hurry and sees itself in a strong position on Hormuz (Al Jazeera (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/26/trump-reportedly-rejects-irans-seven-day-ceasefire-proposal-whats-next)). That is a U.S. claim, from someone who would not give a name. And late Friday the President posted a map on Truth Social labeling the waterway "Trump Strait" (Al Jazeera (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/26/trump-reportedly-rejects-irans-seven-day-ceasefire-proposal-whats-next), France 24 (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260926-trump-reportedly-rejects-iran-s-7-day-plan-to-reopen-strait-of-hormuz)).

Now the line that should stop every one of us cold. According to the Journal's unnamed officials, Trump has told his staff he sees a renewed bombing campaign as likely after the November midterm elections (Reuters (https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-awaits-us-move-after-wsj-report-says-trump-rejects-peace-plan-2026-09-26/), Al Jazeera (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/26/trump-rejects-irans-seven-day-roadmap-to-reopen-strait-of-hormuz)). I can't tell you that part is true. Nobody has said it on the record. But if it is, it means the war is being scheduled around your vote instead of answering to it.

Wars should answer to voters. Voters should never be managed around wars.

Meanwhile, here at home, the cost keeps climbing. AAA puts Delaware diesel at $6.4464 a gallon today, the highest average AAA has ever recorded for our state (AAA Delaware (https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=DE)). A year ago, diesel here was $3.6676 (AAA Delaware (https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=DE)). That's about $2.78 more for every gallon. Regular is $4.3533 today, up from $3.0784 a year ago (AAA Delaware (https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=DE)).

I spent years as a travel ICU nurse, and I live in the Rehoboth Beach area. Diesel moves the trucks that stock our grocery shelves, run our farm equipment and haul our catch off the docks. When diesel sets a record, working people pay it at the register weeks later. The defense contractors don't. The oil traders don't. They get paid either way.

So here is where I stand. I don't take Tehran's word on faith, and I don't take anonymous leaks from Washington on faith either. The President has now said no out loud, with his name on it. Good. Now say the rest out loud. What is the plan to reopen the strait and end this war? If there is going to be more bombing, bring it to Congress for a vote before the election, not after. No blank checks. No war calendar written around the election calendar.

Delaware deserves a senator who will say that on the floor, with a straight face and no donor to answer to.

Today's letter goes deeper on what a war calendar costs Delaware: Day 106 letter (https://travisjackstevens.com/news/day-106-war-calendar-delaware-diesel).

This campaign is funded by people. No Super PAC money. Ever.

November 3 - write TRAVIS JACK STEVENS - travisjackstevens.com (https://travisjackstevens.com)