Trump sends Iran a new ceasefire proposal with stricter terms, delaying a deal that seemed imminent
President Trump sent a revised ceasefire proposal with stricter conditions back to Iran on Friday, upending expectations that a deal to end the three-month war was nearly complete.
A US-Iran ceasefire agreement that appeared close to completion has been thrown back into uncertainty after President Donald Trump returned a revised proposal with hardened terms to Tehran. Following a Friday Situation Room meeting, Trump opted not to sign the draft that had been placed on his desk, instead instructing his team to strengthen several clauses he considers critical.
The Friday meeting and its fallout
According to officials cited by Axios and the New York Times, Trump wants to bolster Washington's position on multiple issues, particularly the fate of Iran's nuclear materials. A senior administration official said the president seeks "more details on how the US will take the material and the timeline," referring to Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The new demands have triggered another round of consultations that could last several days.
He will only make a deal that is good for America, meets his red lines, and ensures that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon.
Nuclear red lines
Trump has repeatedly stated that Tehran cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons and demands the destruction of Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpiles. The current memorandum of understanding includes Iran's commitment not to pursue a nuclear weapon but contains no specific concessions beyond that. It outlines a 60-day window for negotiations on nuclear commitments and sanctions relief, with the disposition of enriched uranium and further enrichment limits as the first agenda items. Trump wants to modify this section with more precise details and a clearer timeline.
Strait of Hormuz and other priorities
Among the president's other priorities is the opening and demining of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed since the war began on February 28 with the Israeli-American attack on the Islamic Republic. The strait's closure has been a major economic pressure point throughout the conflict.
- Israeli-American attack on Iran begins the war
- Two US officials claim Tehran is ready to sign; everything depends on Trump
- White House dismisses IRIB report on framework agreement as 'fabrication'
- Trump holds Situation Room meeting, declines to sign draft, sends revised stricter proposal to Iran
- Iranian state TV reports MoU includes $12 billion asset release; Iranian officials say they also haven't approved final text
Iranian assets and the MoU details
Iranian state television reported Saturday that the memorandum of understanding under discussion includes the release of $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets within 60 days, citing an unofficial copy of the text. The White House had previously dismissed an earlier IRIB report about a framework agreement as "fabrication." Iranian officials told state media that they too had not approved the final text, despite two American officials earlier in the week claiming Tehran was ready to sign and that everything now depended on Trump.
What comes next
The new terms are likely to further prolong negotiations that had appeared to be reaching their conclusion. The war, now in its fourth month, continues as both sides engage in another round of deliberations over the revised American proposal.
