The White House confirmed on Saturday that the US has sent Iran a proposal aimed at reaching a nuclear deal between the two countries.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi revealed that during a brief visit to Tehran, his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi presented him with "elements of a US deal."
This development follows a report by the UN nuclear watchdog, which stated that Iran has intensified its production of enriched uranium—a crucial ingredient for nuclear weapons.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that it is in Iran’s “best interest to accept” the deal, reiterating that former President Trump has made it clear Iran must never acquire a nuclear bomb. She added that a “detailed and acceptable” offer had been delivered to Iran by Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Araghchi responded on X, stating that Iran will reply to the proposal “in accordance with the principles, national interests, and rights of the Iranian people.”
The specific details of the offer remain undisclosed.
The US proposal arrives shortly after an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report, reviewed by the BBC, revealed that Iran now holds over 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity—approaching the 90% purity threshold needed for weapons-grade uranium.
This level greatly exceeds what is required for peaceful nuclear energy and research, and is sufficient to produce roughly 10 nuclear weapons if further refined. Iran is currently the only non-nuclear-armed country producing uranium at this enrichment level.
The report could prompt the US, UK, France, and Germany to urge the IAEA’s board of governors to declare Iran in violation of its non-proliferation commitments.
Iran maintains its nuclear program is peaceful, with state media dismissing the IAEA report as “politically motivated” and filled with “baseless accusations.”
Tehran has vowed to take “appropriate measures” if any action is taken against it at the IAEA board meeting.
The US has sought to limit Iran’s nuclear capabilities for years, with Oman mediating ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran since April.
While both sides have shown some optimism, major disagreements remain, particularly regarding whether Iran can continue uranium enrichment under any new deal.
Despite these negotiations, the IAEA report indicates Iran has not slowed its enrichment activities, having produced highly enriched uranium at a pace roughly equal to one nuclear weapon per month over the past three months.
US officials estimate that Iran could produce weapons-grade material in under two weeks if it chooses, potentially building a bomb within months.
Iran has consistently denied intentions to develop nuclear weapons, but the IAEA has been unable to verify this due to restricted access to inspectors and unanswered questions about Iran’s nuclear past.
Former President Trump is pushing for a new nuclear deal after withdrawing the US in 2018 from the 2015 agreement—the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—signed by Iran and six world powers including the US, China, and the UK.
The JCPOA was designed to restrict Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions imposed in 2010 over fears of nuclear weapon development.
Trump criticized the JCPOA as a “bad deal” for not being permanent and failing to address Iran’s missile program, and re-imposed sanctions to pressure Iran into negotiating a broader agreement.
Since then, Iran has increasingly breached the 2015 deal’s limits aimed at preventing nuclear weapons development.
Trump has also warned of military strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites if diplomatic efforts fail.
BBC
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