Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, announced he would have a draft counterproposal ready in the next few days after recent nuclear talks with the U. S. This comes as President Donald Trump indicated he might consider limited military strikes to put pressure on Iran for a nuclear deal. U. S. military planning against Iran is reportedly advanced, with options including targeted attacks and potential leadership changes in Tehran if Trump orders it. Araqchi mentioned that military action would complicate diplomatic efforts.
On Thursday, Trump set a deadline of 10-15 days for Iran to reach a deal or face severe consequences, amid a military buildup in the Middle East raising war fears. While Araqchi did not specify when the counterproposal would be presented to U. S. officials Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, he expressed optimism about reaching a diplomatic deal soon. He stated that during recent talks, the U. S. did not demand zero uranium enrichment, and Iran has not proposed to suspend its enrichment activities. Confidence-building measures would be discussed to ensure Iran’s nuclear program remains peaceful in exchange for easing sanctions, but no specifics were given. The White House reaffirmed that Iran cannot pursue nuclear weapons or enrich uranium.
With information from Reuters