U.S. Explores Diplomatic Path to New Iran Nuclear Deal/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ U.S. officials have launched covert efforts to restart nuclear negotiations with Iran, considering sweeping proposals including billions in civilian nuclear aid and sanctions relief. Talks persist despite recent military strikes and deep mutual distrust. President Trump remains publicly ambivalent, while diplomats hope a deal could stabilize the region.
U.S.-Iran Diplomatic Efforts + Quick Looks
- Covert diplomacy ongoing: U.S. floats incentives to entice Iran back to talks.
- Massive civilian nuclear proposal: Up to $30 billion for non-enrichment nuclear energy.
- Sanctions relief considered: Iran might regain access to $6 billion in frozen assets.
- Trump’s mixed signals: President publicly downplays urgency of a deal.
- Qatar plays key mediator: Gulf partners crucial in relaying messages between Washington and Tehran.
U.S. Explores Diplomatic Path to New Iran Nuclear Deal
Deep Look
SECRET DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS WORK TO REVIVE IRAN TALKS
Amid rising tensions and recent military strikes, the Trump administration is quietly pursuing a fresh diplomatic push to negotiate a new nuclear agreement with Iran, multiple sources familiar with the discussions said.
The covert outreach involves high-level conversations with Iranian intermediaries and key Gulf partners, even as the region simmers in the wake of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Talks continued this week following a fragile ceasefire, sources said.
SWEEPING PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE
Among the ideas under consideration is a plan for the U.S. and regional partners to help finance a civilian nuclear program in Iran valued between $20 billion and $30 billion—so long as Tehran agrees to completely forgo uranium enrichment on its own soil.
“We’re willing to lead these talks,” a senior Trump administration official told CNN. “Someone is going to need to pay for the nuclear program to be built, but we will not make that commitment ourselves.”
Washington envisions Gulf states like the United Arab Emirates contributing to the investment. The concept is reminiscent of the UAE’s nuclear program, which relies on imported fuel rather than domestic enrichment, a key U.S. safeguard against nuclear weapons proliferation.
SANCTIONS RELIEF AND FROZEN FUNDS
In exchange for Iran’s compliance, the U.S. is exploring lifting some sanctions and granting Iran access to roughly $6 billion currently frozen in foreign bank accounts, according to sources familiar with a draft proposal.
Another potential element would see Gulf allies funding the reconstruction of nuclear facilities, like Iran’s heavily bombed Fordow plant, but configured exclusively for peaceful energy production under international monitoring.
“There are a lot of ideas being thrown around by different people, and a lot of them are trying to be creative,” said one source familiar with the negotiations.
SECRET WHITE HOUSE MEETINGS
A pivotal moment occurred last Friday, just before the latest U.S. military strikes on Iran, when Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met Gulf partners at the White House for hours of closed-door discussions. Two sources confirmed the gathering, describing it as essential groundwork for possible new negotiations.
“The only thing we’d be asking for is what we were asking for before,” President Trump said at a NATO summit this week. “No nuclear.”
TRUMP’S AMBIVALENCE AND DIPLOMATIC TIGHTROPE
Despite these back-channel efforts, Trump has delivered mixed public messages, at times downplaying the urgency of a nuclear deal.
“I don’t care if I have an agreement or not,” Trump declared Wednesday, even as senior advisers continue to craft proposals aimed at drawing Iran back to the table.
Many within his administration believe a longer-term agreement is crucial for stabilizing the recent ceasefire and ensuring Iran doesn’t pivot toward building a nuclear weapon after the recent confrontations.
QATAR PLAYS CRUCIAL MEDIATOR ROLE
The discussions are being facilitated largely through Qatar, which helped broker this week’s ceasefire between Israel and Iran. The Qataris have remained deeply involved in relaying messages and shaping diplomatic proposals, sources said.
“They’re working very closely with us to ensure that fighting does not resume,” one source confirmed.
NUCLEAR STANDOFF REMAINS PRECARIOUS
Before Israel’s strikes roughly two weeks ago, the U.S. and Iran had already completed five rounds of preliminary nuclear negotiations. A sixth round was scheduled in Oman but was abruptly canceled when the conflict erupted.
As part of pre-strike diplomacy, the Trump administration sent private messages to Tehran via intermediaries, warning that the coming U.S. strikes would be contained and reemphasizing Washington’s core demand: zero domestic uranium enrichment.
Even so, significant obstacles remain. Iran’s parliament has since passed legislation to end cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), signaling a potential move toward greater nuclear secrecy and defiance.
“There is hope in Washington that Iran might be more willing to deal after recent events,” a diplomatic source said. “But there’s also a real possibility that the strikes have convinced them they need a nuclear deterrent more than ever.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also national security adviser, underscored the stakes: “We’d love to have peaceful relations with any country in the world. But that will depend on Iran’s willingness not just to engage in peace, but to negotiate directly with the United States, not through intermediaries.”
For now, despite quiet optimism from U.S. envoys, no formal dates have been set for renewed talks, and Iran’s foreign ministry insists it has received no official invitations.
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