The Trump administration discussed the possibility of helping Iran will access up to $ 30 billion (about 25 billion euros) to develop a nuclear program for energy production, relieve sanctions, and unlock millions of millions of dollars in restricted Iranian funds – all part of a growing attempt to bring Teerão back to the negotiating table, say four sources familiar with the subject.
Key elements of the US and Middle East have kept conversations with the Iranian behind-the-scenes, even in the midst of the vacancy of military attacks between Iran and Israel in the last two weeks, guarantee these same sources. These conversations continued this week after a ceasefire agreement was reached.
Trump administration guardians stressed that several proposals were submitted. These are preliminary and evolving, with a consistent non-negotiable condition: zero uranium enrichment by Iran, something that Tehran has repeatedly claimed to be necessary. But at least one preliminary proposal, described to CNN for two sources, includes several incentives for Iran.
Some details were discussed at a secret meeting that lasted several hours between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Gulf partners at the White House last Friday-the day before US military attacks against Iran-two sources knowing the meeting to CNN said.
Among the terms under discussion – which had not yet been reported before – there is an estimated investment between $ 20 and 30 billion (17 to 25 billion euros) in a new Iranian nuclear program without enrichment, intended for civil energy production, according to employees of Trump administration and sources familiar with the proposal. An employee insisted that this money would not come directly from the US, who prefer their Arab partners to finance the project. The investment in nuclear civil facilities in Iran has been discussed in previous rounds of nuclear negotiations in recent months.
“The US is willing to lead these negotiations” with Iran, the Trump administration official reveals to CNN. “And someone will have to pay for the nuclear program to be built, but we will not make this commitment.”
This photograph provided by the White House shows the US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, in the White House crisis room on June 21. (Photography: Daniel Torok/White House/Getty Images)
Other incentives include the possibility of raising some sanctions on Iran and allowing you to have access to the 6 billion dollars (five billion euros) currently deposited in foreign bank accounts, whose use is restricted, according to the draft described to CNN.
Another idea suggested last week, which is currently considering, is that US allies in the Gulf pay to replace the nuclear installation of Fordow – which was hit by US antibunker bombs over the weekend – by a nuclear program without enrichment, clarify two sources familiar with the subject. It was not immediately clear if Iran could use the site itself, nor if the proposal was being considered seriously.
“There are many ideas to be discussed by several people, and many are trying to be creative,” says one of the sources involved in the discussions to CNN.
“I think it’s completely uncertain what will happen here,” says another source familiar with the first five rounds of negotiations between the US and Iran, which occurred before Israeli and American attacks on the Iranian nuclear program.
Witkoff told CNBC on Wednesday that the US seeks a “comprehensive peace agreement,” and a Trump administration official stressed that all proposals aim to prevent the Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.
The US said Iran may have a nuclear program for civil and peaceful purposes, but it cannot enrich uranium for this program. Instead, the US suggests that Iran could import the uranium already enriched. Witkoff compared the potential program to the United Arab Emirates. “Now the question and the conversation with Iran will be: How do we rebuild a better civil nuclear program for you, which does not allow enrichment?” He told CNBC.
Trump administration may have the opportunity to present a formal proposal to Iranians. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the US and Iran would sit at the table next week-although Iranian Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said he was unaware of scheduled negotiations, and sources involved in planning have stated that the details were still being worked on. Sources familiar with the discussions assure CNN that dates have not yet been defined.
Despite the intense diplomacy conducted by Witkoff behind the scenes, Trump publicly minimized this week the need for a nuclear agreement, saying on Wednesday that he believed that such an agreement “was not necessary.” “I don’t care if I have an agreement or not,” said the US President.
Although Trump was publicly indifferent to the celebration of a new agreement after ensuring a ceasefire, many of his counselors believe that the search for a long-term agreement will guarantee the durability of ceasefire.
The terms developed at Witkoff’s secret meeting have been the subject of continuous discussion between the US and Iran through regional intermediaries – especially Qataris – in recent days. Qatar also played a key role in the mediation of the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran earlier this week, and will continue to work very closely with the US to ensure that combat is not resumed, one of the sources added.
In this image obtained from a video, missiles and air defense interceptors illuminate Doha’s night sky after I will have launched an attack on Al Udeid’s Air Base on June 23. (Photography: Getty images)
USA expect attacks encourage agreement
There is hope within the Trump administration that, after the events of the last two weeks, Iran is more likely to accept US conditions and waging efforts that approach it to develop a nuclear weapon. But Iranian experts point to the possibility of the Iranian regime now decides that he needs a nuclear weapon. Earlier this week, the Iranian parliament approved legislation to end cooperation with the UN nuclear agency, signaling its intention to further hide its nuclear program.
Prior to Israeli military operation against Iran about two weeks ago, the US and Iranians had made five negotiating rounds to try to establish a picture for a new nuclear agreement. The US had submitted a proposal to Tehran, and it was expected to respond during a sixth round planned to Oman. These conversations were interrupted by the attacks of Israel to Iran.
On Saturday, before the US attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities, the Trump administration communicated with Iran through intermediaries. The message was double: US attacks would be limited, but the conditions for diplomatic agreement with Iran were clear and simple: total uranium enrichment prohibition, the sources say.
This 24 June satellite image provided by Maxer Technologies shows damage to Fordow enrichment installation after US attacks on 22 June. (Photography: Maxer Technologies/AP)
Trump has been cautious about the prospects for an agreement, telling journalists after announcing negotiations with Iran for next week: “We can sign an agreement, I don’t know,” Trump said at a NATO summit on Wednesday, saying, “I can get a statement that they [os iranianos] They will not follow with a nuclear program; Let’s probably ask that. “
Donald Trump also added that his administration will look for the same kind of commitments that they demanded from Iran before the latest conflict with Israel. “The only thing we are going to ask is what we asked before,” he said, adding that he wants “zero nuclear.”
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also performs duties as a national security counselor, said on Wednesday that any eventual agreement will depend on Iran’s willingness to negotiate directly with the US, not through intermediaries. “We would like to have peaceful relationships with any country in the world. And therefore, obviously, it will depend on the willingness of Iran not only to commit to peace, but to negotiate directly with the United States – not through a third or fourth country process,” Rubio said at a press conference alongside Trump in The Hague.
Witkoff said on Wednesday that there are “signs” that one can reach an agreement. “We are having conversations with the Iranians. There are several interlocutors contacting us,” he told CNBC. “I think they are ready.”
