President Donald Trump has been discussing Iran’s latest proposal related to ending the conflict with advisers, but is maintaining key “red lines,” including preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, according to reports.
Bloomberg News reported that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing on the 27th (local time) that Trump convened a national security team meeting at the White House to review Iran’s proposal. “The president’s red lines on Iran are very clear,” Leavitt said, adding that Trump would state his position soon.
Her comments followed reports that Iran proposed an interim arrangement under which it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the United States lifting its blockade of Iranian ports. The proposal was also said to include postponing complicated issues, including Iran’s nuclear program, to later talks.
Bloomberg, citing The Wall Street Journal, said Trump and his advisers are taking a cautious view of the proposal, particularly on the nuclear issue. The Journal previously reported that Trump was skeptical of what it described as Iran’s “three-step peace plan.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican and Trump ally, wrote on X that if the proposal is accurate, “Iran is playing games to buy time,” and said the president should hold to his existing position “for the country and the world.”
Iran, meanwhile, said it would continue to strengthen cooperation with partners. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, visiting Russia, met with President Vladimir Putin and emphasized closer ties, saying, “The Iranian people have endured U.S. attacks and will overcome them.”
Iran has also conveyed through mediators, including Pakistan, that ending the dispute would be possible if the United States lifts its maritime blockade and halts military action, according to reports.
The United States, however, views the nuclear issue as central to any agreement. Trump has said the maritime blockade will remain unless Iran’s nuclear program is resolved. The United States is demanding that Iran halt its nuclear program for 20 years and remove all of its roughly 440 kilograms of highly enriched uranium.
Iran previously proposed suspending uranium enrichment for five years, followed by allowing low-level enrichment for civilian use for an additional five years. It also proposed diluting its uranium stockpile, keeping half in Iran under international monitoring and transferring the other half to Russia.
After Trump judged those steps insufficient, Iran offered a new approach that would push the nuclear issue to later negotiations, The New York Times reported.
Still, some analysts say the gap between the two sides may be narrower than it appears. CNN, citing sources, reported that back-channel contacts are continuing and that the early stage of any potential deal is likely to focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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