The United States submitted its first formal nuclear proposal to Iran on Saturday, coinciding with newly released U.N. findings that Tehran’s stockpile of near-bomb-grade uranium has grown substantially over the past three months. The offer, while not a comprehensive agreement, is structured as a set of bullet points and marks the first written proposal by lead American negotiator Steve Witkoff since talks began in early April.
The proposal calls for Iran to immediately halt all uranium enrichment and introduces the idea of a regional nuclear energy consortium. This initiative would include Iran, Saudi Arabia, other Arab states, and the United States. Though incomplete, the offer signals a shift in Washington’s strategy by formally placing terms on the table. Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, announced the delivery of the document via Oman, which has hosted the ongoing diplomatic talks. The White House later confirmed the proposal.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “President Trump has made it clear that Iran can never obtain a nuclear bomb. Special Envoy Witkoff has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it’s in their best interest to accept it. Out of respect for the ongoing deal, the administration will not comment on details of the proposal to the media.”
Skepticism remains high among international experts, especially regarding the willingness of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to approve any deal that would effectively dismantle the nuclear infrastructure Tehran has invested billions into and has defended against multiple sabotage attempts by Israel and the United States. Araghchi responded to the proposal by stating Iran would evaluate it “in line with the principles, national interests and rights of the people of Iran.” Iran has previously dismissed U.S. calls to stop all enrichment, asserting that producing nuclear fuel is a sovereign right and a critical element of their national identity as a threshold nuclear state.
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Iran’s Enrichment Surge Raises Global Alarm
The U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) revealed that Iran has increased its uranium enriched to 60 percent — dangerously close to the 90 percent threshold needed for nuclear weapons. The report estimates Iran now holds approximately 900 pounds of this material, up from 605 pounds in February, potentially enough for about ten nuclear weapons. This increase coincides with efforts to gain negotiating leverage against Witkoff and the Trump administration.
IAEA Director General Rafael M. Grossi emphasized the urgency of reaching a diplomatic resolution, warning, “The significantly increased production and accumulation of highly enriched uranium by Iran, the only non-nuclear-weapon state to produce such nuclear material, is of serious concern.” Although Iran has removed many IAEA surveillance tools from its nuclear facilities, it still permits inspectors to measure its enriched uranium stockpile.
Despite having the necessary enriched uranium, intelligence analysts suggest that weaponizing the material would still take several months to a year. However, U.S. intelligence has also suggested Iran may be pursuing an alternative, faster method for developing a crude nuclear device in the event of escalating tensions.
Military Tensions Simmer as Diplomatic Clock Ticks
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been pushing for joint military action with the United States, arguing that Iranian enrichment facilities in Natanz and Fordow are increasingly vulnerable following last year’s Israeli airstrikes. Although Trump confirmed that Israel considered striking Iran earlier this year, he reportedly advised against it, believing diplomacy was within reach.
“I want it very strong where we can go in with inspectors, we can take whatever we want, we can blow up whatever we want, but nobody’s getting killed,” Trump told reporters. “We can blow up a lab, but nobody’s going to be in the lab.” He also stated any deal secured by Witkoff must give the U.S. wide-ranging authority to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program — a condition Iran has firmly opposed.
Netanyahu, responding to the IAEA disclosures, said the findings were “grave” and called for immediate international action to contain Iran. Notably, he did not issue any direct military threats. Israel, while not a member of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, is widely believed to maintain an undeclared nuclear arsenal of approximately 100 weapons.
Ongoing Disputes Over Iran’s Nuclear Past
The second IAEA report highlighted Iran’s continued refusal to grant inspectors access to suspected military sites where nuclear research is believed to have taken place over 20 years ago. While U.S. intelligence under the Bush administration determined Iran suspended such work in 2003, Israel contends that clandestine development continued under the leadership of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh — a key figure assassinated by Israel in 2020 using a robotic system enhanced with artificial intelligence.
Iran maintains the allegations are politically motivated and insists the sites were not involved in nuclear activity. On Saturday, Iran dismissed the IAEA’s claims as “baseless allegations that cannot be validated.” The report detailed how Iranian officials submitted media stories and intelligence suggesting the nuclear materials found at those locations were planted, but inspectors rejected the explanation due to what they called a “lack of technically credible answers.”
It remains unclear whether the U.S. will demand full transparency about Iran’s past nuclear activity as a condition in any final deal.
A Critical Moment for Nuclear Diplomacy
As Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile approaches weapons-grade and tensions rise in the region, the diplomatic window to resolve the nuclear issue may be narrowing. With both sides entrenched in long-standing demands and historical mistrust, the success of the U.S. proposal will depend not only on political will but also on whether Iran is willing to compromise on its enrichment ambitions. The stakes are high, and the coming weeks may determine whether the standoff ends in agreement or escalation.
