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As US proposal takes shape, Iran mulls response to nuclear compromise

Iran says it will soon respond to what the White House described as a "very detailed and acceptable proposal."

ranians pass by a mural that depicts the two Supreme Leaders of Iran near Enghelab (Revolution) Square in downtown Tehran, Iran on April 8, 2025.
Iranians pass by a mural that depicts the two supreme leaders of Iran near Enghelab (Revolution) Square in downtown Tehran, Iran, on April 8, 2025. — MOHAMMADALI NAJIB/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

WASHINGTON — The White House did not outright deny reports that the latest US proposal to Iran would permit some enrichment of nuclear fuel in the short term but emphasized that its ultimate goal remains a complete halt of Tehran's uranium enrichment. 

President Donald Trump “made his position very clear on Truth Social,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Tuesday, referencing his post a day earlier that said a potential agreement would not allow “any enrichment of uranium.” 

Leavitt added that Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, “sent a very detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime that the president hopes they will accept. And if not, they will face grave consequences.”

Trump continues to insist that under a possible deal Iran will not be allowed to enrich uranium, which is required for civilian nuclear power reactors but can also be used to produce nuclear weapons when enriched to higher levels. But his Monday post — which Al-Monitor understands was issued following a White House meeting on Iran — contradicts an Axios report from earlier that day. 

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