As published in Israel Hayom, the Trump administration is discussing a proposal to assist Iran with a sum of up to $30 billion (101 billion shekels) for building a civilian nuclear energy program, sanctions relief, and release of billions of dollars in restricted Iranian funds – all as part of a mounting effort to return Tehran to the negotiating table, according to four sources involved in the matter. The discussions continued this week after a ceasefire agreement was reached.
Officials in the Trump administration emphasized that several proposals have been raised, with one fixed and non-negotiable demand that Iran achieve zero uranium enrichment, something Iran has consistently said it is not prepared for. Some of the details were discussed in a secret, hours-long meeting between United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and partners from Gulf states at the White House on Friday, one day before the American strikes against Iran.
Among the previously unreported conditions is an estimated investment of $20-30 billion in a new Iranian nuclear program without enrichment, which would serve civilian energy purposes, Trump administration officials and sources familiar with the proposal told CNN. One source insisted that the money would not come directly from the United States, which prefers that "its Arab partners pay the bill."
Additional ways the American administration is trying to attract Iran include potential removal of some sanctions on Iran and allowing Tehran access to $6 billion currently in foreign bank accounts that it is restricted from using freely, according to a draft of the agreement.
Another idea raised last week and now under consideration is that US allies in the Gulf would pay to replace the Fordo nuclear facility with a program without enrichment. It is still unclear whether Iran would be able to use the site itself.
United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff told CNBC on Wednesday that the United States seeks a "comprehensive peace agreement," and a Trump administration official emphasized that all proposals are designed to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
The United States said that Iran may maintain a nuclear program for civilian purposes, but that it cannot enrich uranium for this program. Instead, the United States proposed that Iran could import enriched uranium. Witkoff compared the potential program to that of the United Arab Emirates.
President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the United States and Iran would meet next week. However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated that he was not aware of any talks scheduled for next week. Those involved in planning said the details are still being finalized.
While the president appears indifferent publicly to pursuing a new agreement after achieving the ceasefire agreement, many of his advisers believe that pursuing a long-term agreement will ensure the ceasefire has longevity.
Qatar played a central role in mediating the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran early this week, and will work closely with the United States to ensure that fighting between them does not resume, one of the sources added.
The United States hopes the strikes will lead to an agreement. There is hope within the Trump administration that after the events of the past two weeks, Iran is more inclined to respond to American conditions for a deal and stop efforts that could bring it closer to developing nuclear weapons.
However, Iran experts point to the possible scenario that the Iranian regime may now decide it needs nuclear weapons. Early this week, the Iranian parliament approved legislation to end cooperation with the UN nuclear council, signaling a desire to further hide their nuclear program.
Before Israel's military operation against Iran about two weeks ago, the United States and Iran conducted five rounds of negotiations to try to reach a framework for a new nuclear agreement. The United States presented a proposal to Tehran, and Iran was expected to respond during a planned sixth round of negotiations in Oman. These talks were halted by the Israeli strikes on Iran.
President Donald Trump addressed the possibility of a deal, telling reporters after announcing talks with Iran next week that "maybe we'll sign an agreement, I don't know." At the NATO summit, he said, "I can get a statement that they're not going nuclear, we'll probably ask for that."
The president added that his administration would seek the same type of commitments they sought in negotiations with Iran before the recent conflict between Israel and Iran. "The only thing we would ask is what we asked before," President Donald Trump said, adding that he wants "no nuclear."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as national security adviser, said on Wednesday that any such deal would depend on Iran's willingness to negotiate directly with the United States, not through intermediaries. "We would be happy to have peaceful relations with any country in the world. And so clearly this depends on Iran's willingness not only to engage in peace, but to negotiate directly with the United States, not through a third or fourth country process," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a press conference alongside President Donald Trump in The Hague.
United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said on Wednesday that there are "signs" that an agreement can be reached. "We are holding talks with the Iranians. There are multiple intermediaries approaching us," he told CNBC. "I think they are ready."
