Iran gives the U.S. new response on draft peace deal
· Axios
Iran has delivered its response to the latest U.S. amendments to a draft plan to end the war, a regional source confirmed to Axios.
The big picture: The Iranian response is a signal that the diplomacy is not entirely frozen. It comes as President Trump maintains a U.S. naval blockade and considers new military action against Iran.
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- Iranian state media also reported on the response delivered to the U.S. on Thursday via Pakistani mediators.
Catch up quick: Last weekend, Iran gave the U.S. a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, with nuclear negotiations postponed for a later stage.
- On Monday, White House envoy Steve Witkoff sent a list of amendments that focus on inserting the nuclear issue back into the draft text, according to a source with knowledge.
- The source said one of the amendments included a demand that Iran commit not to try to move any enriched uranium out of its bombed nuclear facilities, or restart any activity at those sites, as long as negotiations continue.
What they're saying: "Nobody knows what the talks are except myself and a couple of other people. They want to make a deal badly. We have a problem because nobody knows for sure who the leaders are. It's a little bit of a problem," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday.
- The Iranians claim it's Trump who is desperate for a deal.
- The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Behind the scenes: On Thursday afternoon, Trump huddled with his top national security team on Iran for around 45 minutes in the White House Situation Room.
- Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Witkoff attended.
- CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine briefed Trump and his team on new plans for possible military action against Iran, two U.S. official said.