The United States has presented Iran with a nuclear deal proposal that the White House described as “acceptable” and “in Iran’s best interest” to accept, according to U.S. media reports.
The proposal comes amid rising concerns after a United Nations report revealed that Iran has increased its enrichment of uranium to high levels, escalating global anxiety about its nuclear intentions.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, confirmed that he received elements of the U.S. offer via his Omani counterpart during a diplomatic visit to Tehran on Saturday.
“The U.S. envoy, Steve Witkoff, has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it is in their best interest to accept it,” said White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, as quoted by The New York Times.
The proposal is reportedly not a full draft but a set of key points, according to officials familiar with the ongoing diplomatic exchange. Among these points, Iran is urged to halt all uranium enrichment, and the plan proposes the formation of a regional nuclear energy consortium involving Iran, Saudi Arabia, other Arab states, and the United States.
The talks follow five rounds of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran aimed at crafting a new agreement to replace the 2015 nuclear deal, which former U.S. President Donald Trump abandoned in 2018 during his first term.
Speaking on Saturday, Araghchi reiterated Iran’s stance that nuclear weapons are “unacceptable”, a declaration made shortly after Trump stated that Iran “must not be allowed to have nuclear weapons,” expressing hope for a near-term agreement.
