President Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran should make a quick decision on an American proposal for a nuclear deal or “something bad will happen.”
Speaking in Abu Dhabi as he capped a Gulf tour, Trump said his administration had handed Iran a proposal for an agreement, adding that “they know they have to move quickly or something bad is going to happen.”
The Trump administration presented Iran with a written proposal for a nuclear deal during the fourth round of negotiations held in Oman on Sunday, according to a U.S. official and two sources with direct knowledge of the talks cited by Axios. This marks the first time since negotiations began in early April that the U.S. has provided a formal written offer to Iran, signaling a potential turning point in the high-stakes discussions.
The proposal was delivered by White House envoy Steve Witkoff to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who has returned to Tehran to consult with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and other top officials. The details of the U.S. proposal remain undisclosed, but sources indicate it outlines limitations for a civilian nuclear program in Iran, along with monitoring and verification requirements.
The move comes amid intense diplomatic efforts to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear capabilities, with President Donald Trump emphasizing the urgency of the talks. Speaking in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Trump described the proposal as “an olive branch” but warned, “This is not an offer that will last forever. The time is right now for them to choose.”
The presentation of a written proposal follows months of negotiations that initially focused on establishing trust and dialogue. During the first round of talks in April, Araghchi provided Witkoff with a document containing Iranian proposals, which the U.S. deemed premature. By the third round, the U.S. accepted an Iranian proposal for review, leading to an exchange of questions and clarifications that paved the way for the U.S. to draft its own plan.
Witkoff’s team has faced challenges in articulating a consistent U.S. position, particularly regarding Iran’s uranium enrichment. While Witkoff previously suggested that Iran could enrich uranium at low levels (up to 3.67%) for civilian purposes, he later clarified that any deal would require Iran to “stop and eliminate” its enrichment and weaponization programs entirely. This shift has drawn criticism from hawkish voices in Washington, including Senator Tom Cotton, who insists on “zero enrichment” and has rallied Republican support for a hardline stance.
Iran has signaled openness to a deal that aligns with its interests. A senior adviser to Khamenei told NBC News on Wednesday that Iran is prepared to limit enrichment to levels suitable for civilian use, surrender its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, and allow international inspectors to verify compliance—provided all U.S. sanctions are lifted. Iranian officials have stressed that uranium enrichment remains non-negotiable, though they are willing to discuss limitations on its scope and scale for confidence-building purposes.
The talks are unfolding against a backdrop of regional tensions and U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, which Trump has described as a contingency plan should diplomacy fail. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have urged the U.S. to secure a deal to avoid a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, which could ignite a broader regional conflict.
Witkoff briefed the UN Security Council last Wednesday, describing the U.S. proposal as “elegant” and “very big” while acknowledging that further progress is needed.
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Which countries can enrich uranium?
There are three major producers at present: Orano, Rosatom, and Urenco operating large commercial enrichment plants in France, Germany, Netherlands, UK, USA, and Russia. CNNC is a major domestic supplier and is pursuing export sales. In Japan and Brazil, domestic fuel cycle companies manage modest supply capability.Mar 21, 2025