The Trump administration has submitted a new nuclear proposal to Iran that would permit limited uranium enrichment within Iranian territory for a specified timeframe, according to sources familiar with the matter. This development marks a significant shift from previous public positions taken by key administration officials, including Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had insisted on complete dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The proposal, delivered to Iranian officials on Saturday, has already sparked controversy among U.S. allies, particularly Israel, and Republican senators who have advocated for maintaining strict requirements of zero enrichment and total dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program. The news immediately impacted oil markets, causing prices to decline.
Iran’s response to the proposal has been mixed. The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, emphasized that Iran requires clear guarantees regarding sanctions relief, including specific details about the mechanism and timing of their removal. Tehran has consistently maintained that uranium enrichment for peaceful energy purposes is its sovereign right.
According to Reuters, an Iranian diplomat close to the negotiating team indicated that Iran is preparing to reject the U.S. proposal, describing it as inadequate in addressing Tehran’s interests. The diplomat noted that the U.S. position on enrichment remains
problematic and lacks clarity regarding sanctions relief.
This diplomatic development comes during a critical period in U.S.-Iran relations, with President Trump recently working to discourage Israeli considerations of preemptive strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. The president has emphasized the need for additional time to pursue a peaceful resolution to the nuclear dispute.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has defended the proposal, stating that Special Envoy Witkoff has presented Iran with a “detailed and acceptable proposal” that serves their best interests. However, conflicting reports have emerged about the exact nature of the U.S. position on uranium enrichment, with some media outlets suggesting that the administration continues to demand a complete halt to enrichment activities.
The situation has created confusion among observers, with journalists noting discrepancies between various media reports about the U.S. stance on enrichment. While Axios sources indicate a softening of the U.S. position, other outlets maintain that the administration remains firm on demanding an end to enrichment activities.
The administration has repeatedly emphasized that time is running out for reaching a new agreement. This urgency is balanced against Iran’s insistence on maintaining its enrichment capabilities and securing comprehensive sanctions relief. The Islamic Republic continues to assert that its nuclear program serves purely peaceful purposes, though this claim has been met with skepticism from Western powers.
The proposal represents a delicate diplomatic balancing act for the Trump administration, which must navigate between maintaining pressure on Iran while avoiding escalation that could destabilize the region. The administration’s approach has drawn criticism from hardliners who view any concession on enrichment as dangerous, while others see it as a necessary compromise to achieve a diplomatic breakthrough.
As both sides evaluate their positions, the international community watches closely to see whether this latest proposal might lead to a breakthrough in the long-standing nuclear dispute, or whether it will join previous attempts that failed to bridge the fundamental differences between Washington and Tehran.