Trump Administration Presents Iran with Stricter Terms for Comprehensive Peace Framework, According to High-Ranking Officials
According to one official, the changes made by President Trump to the proposed deal were potentially designed to accelerate the process by exerting pressure on Iran to accept the current framework.
President Trump has introduced tougher terms to a potential framework for a deal aimed at ending the war in Iran, and has sent these proposed changes back to the country for consideration, as confirmed by three officials.
At the time, it was not immediately clear what specific changes had been made to the text of the agreement, leaving some uncertainty about the details of the proposal.
President Trump has expressed concerns about certain aspects of the potential deal, specifically those that would involve unfreezing funds for the Iranians, as stated by two officials. He has been highly critical of former President Barack Obama for taking similar actions in the more than decade-old agreement signed to curb Iran's nuclear program.
Additionally, President Trump has been frustrated by the prolonged period it has taken for Iran to respond to U.S. proposals, which have been negotiated with the involvement of intermediaries, including those from Pakistan, according to one official.
The official further explained that President Trump's changes, which constitute a new, tougher proposal, were potentially intended to expedite the process by putting pressure on Iran to accept the framework already submitted to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for approval.
However, reaching the supreme leader has proven to be challenging, and any changes to the document, known as the memorandum of understanding, could potentially lead to additional delays in the process.
On Friday, President Trump held a two-hour meeting in the Situation Room with top aides to discuss an end to the war, but the meeting concluded without any announcement being made.
The proposed framework would effectively bring an end to the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran in exchange for Iran lifting its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for oil and gas shipping that was previously open to trade before the bombing campaign against Iran commenced on February 28.
Some of the most complex issues, such as the future of Iran's nuclear program, would be deferred to later rounds of talks, allowing for a more gradual and step-by-step approach to addressing these sensitive topics.
The reporting of this story was contributed to by Aaron Boxerman and Farnaz Fassihi.
Luke Broadwater is a reporter covering the White House for The Times, providing in-depth coverage of the administration's activities.
Ronen Bergman is a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, based in Tel Aviv, where he covers a wide range of topics related to the region.
Tyler Pager is a White House correspondent for The Times, responsible for covering President Trump and his administration, providing updates on the latest developments and news from the White House.
President Trump has introduced tougher terms to a potential framework for a deal aimed at ending the war in Iran, and has sent these proposed changes back to the country for consideration, as confirmed by three officials.
At the time, it was not immediately clear what specific changes had been made to the text of the agreement, leaving some uncertainty about the details of the proposal.
President Trump has expressed concerns about certain aspects of the potential deal, specifically those that would involve unfreezing funds for the Iranians, as stated by two officials. He has been highly critical of former President Barack Obama for taking similar actions in the more than decade-old agreement signed to curb Iran's nuclear program.
Additionally, President Trump has been frustrated by the prolonged period it has taken for Iran to respond to U.S. proposals, which have been negotiated with the involvement of intermediaries, including those from Pakistan, according to one official.
The official further explained that President Trump's changes, which constitute a new, tougher proposal, were potentially intended to expedite the process by putting pressure on Iran to accept the framework already submitted to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for approval.
However, reaching the supreme leader has proven to be challenging, and any changes to the document, known as the memorandum of understanding, could potentially lead to additional delays in the process.
On Friday, President Trump held a two-hour meeting in the Situation Room with top aides to discuss an end to the war, but the meeting concluded without any announcement being made.
The proposed framework would effectively bring an end to the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran in exchange for Iran lifting its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for oil and gas shipping that was previously open to trade before the bombing campaign against Iran commenced on February 28.
Some of the most complex issues, such as the future of Iran's nuclear program, would be deferred to later rounds of talks, allowing for a more gradual and step-by-step approach to addressing these sensitive topics.
The reporting of this story was contributed to by Aaron Boxerman and Farnaz Fassihi.
Luke Broadwater is a reporter covering the White House for The Times, providing in-depth coverage of the administration's activities.
Ronen Bergman is a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, based in Tel Aviv, where he covers a wide range of topics related to the region.
Tyler Pager is a White House correspondent for The Times, responsible for covering President Trump and his administration, providing updates on the latest developments and news from the White House.
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