ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Friday that there is an American proposal concerning Iran's rapidly advancing nuclear program amidst ongoing negotiations between the two nations. This acknowledgment marks the first time Trump has confirmed the existence of a proposal with Tehran following various discussions involving U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
The negotiations have reached an “expert” level, indicating that both sides are examining the details to potentially reach an agreement. A significant sticking point in these discussions is Iran's uranium enrichment program, which Tehran insists must continue while the Trump administration is increasingly adamant that Iran must cease such activities.
Trump's comments were made aboard Air Force One as he concluded his trip to the United Arab Emirates, the last stop of his three-nation tour that also included Saudi Arabia and Qatar. At nearly every event in the region, Trump has stressed that Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear bomb, despite assertions from American intelligence agencies that Tehran is not actively pursuing this capability, even as its program nears the point of weaponization.
In response to a reporter's question about whether the U.S. had officially submitted a proposal to Iran, Trump replied, “They have a proposal. But most importantly, they know they have to move quickly, or something bad is going to happen.” However, he did not provide any further details regarding the proposal, and Iran did not immediately confirm it had received such documentation.
On the previous day, Araghchi addressed the media at the Tehran International Book Fair, asserting that Iran had not received any formal proposal from the United States. He characterized the mixed messages from the Trump administration as either a sign of chaos in Washington or part of a deliberate negotiation tactic. Witkoff initially suggested that Iran might be permitted to enrich uranium to 3.67%, only to later state that all uranium enrichment must halt.
On Friday night, Araghchi expressed on the social media platform X that Iran has not received any written proposal from the U.S., either directly or indirectly. He emphasized the confusion and contradictions in the messaging from Washington, stating, “There is no scenario in which Iran abandons its hard-earned right to enrichment for peaceful purposes.”
Discussions have been taking place in Oman and Rome, with negotiations mediated by Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, a trusted intermediary between the two countries. The ongoing talks aim to curtail Iran's nuclear ambitions in exchange for the easing of stringent economic sanctions imposed by the U.S., a relationship characterized by nearly five decades of hostility.
Trump has consistently threatened to launch military strikes against Iran’s nuclear program if an agreement is not reached. Iranian officials have increasingly warned of the possibility of pursuing a nuclear weapon with their uranium stockpile, which is enriched to levels close to those required for weapons-grade material. Compounding the tension, Israel has threatened to unilaterally target Iran’s nuclear facilities if it perceives a threat, further escalating conflicts in a Middle East already inflamed by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
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Reported by Zeke Miller and Jon Gambrell.
