US President Donald Trump on Friday said that Iran has received a proposal from his administration about its nuclear programme, but hours later Tehran denied this. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One at the end of his visit to the Middle East, Trump said: "They have a proposal. But most importantly, they know they have to move quickly, or something bad is going to happen." This marks the first time Trump has publicly said that an American proposal has been presented to Tehran. According to the Associated Press (AP), negotiations have reached what officials describe as "expert" level, where both sides are discussing the details of a possible agreement. However, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied the existence of any such proposal. In a post on X, he said: "Iran has not received any written proposal from the United States, whether directly or indirectly." Iran has not received any written proposal from the United States, whether directly or indirectly. In the meantime, the messaging we—and the world—continue to receive is confusing and contradictory. Iran nonetheless remains determined and straightforward: Respect our rights and… — Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) May 16, 2025 Araghchi added: "In the meantime, the messaging we and the world continue to receive is confusing and contradictory. Mark my words: there is no scenario in which Iran abandons its hard-earned right to enrichment for peaceful purposes." Trump's comments followed multiple rounds of talks between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Araghchi. The talks, held in Oman and Rome and mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, aim to reach a deal limiting Iran’s nuclear activity in exchange for easing US sanctions. A key issue remains Iran’s uranium enrichment. Iran insists it must retain the right to enrich for peaceful purposes, while US officials have pushed for a complete halt. On Thursday, before Trump’s remarks, Araghchi told reporters at the Tehran International Book Fair that Iran had not received any American proposal. He also criticised what he described as inconsistent statements from the US administration, suggesting they either reflect confusion or a deliberate tactic. While US intelligence agencies do not believe Iran is actively pursuing a nuclear weapon, its programme is close to being capable of producing one. Trump has warned of possible military action if a deal is not reached, while Iranian officials have also hinted they may move towards weaponisation under pressure.
