President Donald Trump urged Iran to quickly respond to his nuclear proposal, warning that failure could lead to serious consequences, including military action.
Washington, DC. (WE) — United States President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that his administration has delivered a formal nuclear proposal to Iran amid intensifying diplomatic efforts to contain Tehran’s rapidly advancing atomic program. While flying back from a state visit to the UAE, Trump said for the first time that U.S. officials had made a concrete offer to Iran.
“We’re in very serious negotiations with Iran for long-term peace,” Trump told reporters. “We’re not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran. I think we’re getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this. But most importantly, they know they have to move quickly, or something bad is going to happen.”
Trump has repeatedly threatened military action against Iran’s nuclear sites if diplomacy fails. His remarks on Friday appeared to sharpen that warning, suggesting a final window for Iran to act before potential consequences.
Until now, Trump and his administration avoided acknowledging that they had sent a written proposal. But officials familiar with the talks say intermediaries from Oman and Italy delivered the message through multiple back channels.
Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Middle East envoy leading the negotiations, has held several private meetings in Muscat and Rome with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Officials consider those unofficial meetings essential to keeping the door open for a peaceful resolution.
On Thursday, Araghchi spoke at the Tehran International Book Fair and publicly denied that Iran had received any U.S. proposal. He criticized what he called mixed messaging from the Trump administration, describing it as either confusion in Washington or a calculated tactic to keep Tehran off balance.
“We are hearing many contradictory statements from the United States – from Washington, from the president, and from the new administration,” Araghchi said. “Sometimes we hear two or three different positions in a single day.”
He added that despite claims from the U.S., Iran had not officially been presented with a nuclear proposal. “Until we receive something concrete, there is nothing to consider,” he said.
Witkoff had reportedly offered a scenario where Iran could continue enriching uranium up to 3.67 percent, the level allowed under the 2015 nuclear deal, but later contradicted himself by suggesting Iran must suspend all enrichment activity.
Such inconsistencies have raised doubts among Iranian officials, who believe the administration may be divided on its strategy. Despite the confusion, Iran has remained firm on one key issue—its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.
“Mark my words: there is no scenario in which Iran abandons its hard-earned right to enrichment,” Araghchi said in a social media post. “Peaceful nuclear development is non-negotiable.”
Ambassador Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister and top nuclear negotiator, echoed that stance. Speaking to reporters in Tehran, he said the right to enrich uranium was Iran’s “absolute red line.”
He added that any proposal seeking to limit enrichment entirely would be rejected outright.
In recent weeks, Iranian and American delegations have met in neutral locations, including Oman and Rome. Those meetings were mediated by Badr al-Busaidi, Oman’s foreign minister, who has long played a behind-the-scenes role in U.S.-Iran relations.
The discussions have focused on reimposing limits on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for a partial rollback of the crippling sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department. Those sanctions have devastated Iran’s economy, cutting off access to international banking and choking its vital oil exports.
Trump’s threat of military strikes is not new. During his first term, he frequently hinted at the possibility of bombing Iran’s nuclear sites, especially after tensions spiked following the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in 2020.
Now, amid growing alarm over Iran’s uranium stockpile, U.S. officials have again warned of possible consequences if no agreement is reached soon.
A recent IAEA report found that Iran is enriching uranium at levels close to weapons-grade—just under 90 percent. Tehran claims the material is for energy and research, but Western officials remain skeptical.
According to the agency, Iran currently possesses more than 5,000 kilograms of enriched uranium, some of which exceeds the 60 percent purity threshold. At those levels, experts say the material could be converted into a nuclear bomb within months if Tehran made the political decision to do so.
Though Iran insists it is not seeking nuclear weapons, some Iranian lawmakers have suggested that the country should reconsider that stance if threats from the West continue.
“We will be forced to make hard decisions,” said Mojtaba Zonnour, a senior Iranian parliamentarian. “Our patience is not unlimited.”
While Trump has called for urgent progress, Iran’s diplomats say they will not be rushed.
Gharibabadi met on Friday with officials from Britain, France, and Germany in Istanbul to discuss their nuclear stance. These countries, collectively known as the E3, remain committed to salvaging the 2015 agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gharibabadi wrote, “We exchanged views and discussed the latest status of the indirect nuclear negotiations and the lifting of sanctions.” He said that additional talks with the E3 and possibly China and Russia could follow.
Trump, however, has continued to emphasize that his patience is running out.
He has described the situation as urgent, citing the threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran. While some members of his administration argue for extending diplomacy, hardliners continue to advocate for military readiness.
The Pentagon has already reviewed several contingency plans for potential strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, according to sources familiar with internal briefings. These include cyber operations, targeted airstrikes, and support for regional allies like Israel and Saudi Arabia.
For now, Trump appears to be balancing diplomacy and deterrence. But with pressure mounting on both sides, the window for peaceful resolution may be narrowing.
The crisis dates back to 2018 when Trump unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA, calling it “the worst deal ever negotiated.” His administration then reimposed sweeping sanctions on Iran’s economy, targeting its financial institutions and energy exports.
In response, Iran began breaching its obligations under the deal, exceeding enrichment limits and curtailing inspections by the IAEA.
Since then, both countries have danced around the possibility of restarting talks, but mistrust runs deep. While Iran seeks full sanctions relief, Washington insists on strict verification measures and limits on ballistic missile development.
European diplomats have tried to keep the agreement alive. But even they admit that without U.S. leadership, there’s little chance of restoring the original framework.
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The Biden administration had attempted to revive the deal in its early months but talks faltered in 2022. Trump’s return to power brought those efforts to a halt.
Now, as the world watches, Trump appears to be offering a final chance for negotiation—on his own terms.
Iranian state media has not yet published details of Trump’s proposal. However, Iranian analysts speculate that the offer likely includes phased sanctions relief in exchange for freezing enrichment at current levels.
“Tehran will not accept any offer that does not fully respect our sovereignty,” said Mohammad Marandi, an adviser to Iran’s nuclear negotiating team. “We refuse to give in to threats.”
Marandi added that Iran wants a deal but will not compromise on its red lines. He criticized the U.S. for what he called its “bullying posture” and urged the United Nations to mediate more actively.
As both sides dig in, the diplomatic calculus becomes more complicated. Iran is also facing internal economic pressures, with inflation soaring and protests erupting over food shortages and unemployment.
Some experts believe that these domestic challenges could push Iran’s leadership to consider compromise. Others warn that nationalist sentiment could make concessions politically dangerous.
The coming weeks may prove decisive. Trump has said the proposal has a short shelf life. If Iran does not engage meaningfully, his administration may move toward more aggressive options.
“Iran knows what it has to do,” Trump said Friday. “This isn’t a game. They have the offer. Now they need to act.”
While the full contents of the U.S. proposal remain confidential, sources close to the talks suggest it includes verifiable steps for limiting uranium enrichment, real-time IAEA monitoring, and a gradual rollback of key sanctions. The plan reportedly stops short of restoring the 2015 deal but seeks to create a new framework tailored to current geopolitical realities.
Whether Iran accepts the terms—or rejects them outright—may shape the region’s future for years to come.
For now, the world watches and waits.
