The Trump administration is evaluating a diplomatic proposal that would allow Iran to maintain minimal, symbolic levels of uranium enrichment, provided all potential pathways to nuclear weapons development are completely eliminated, according to an Axios report citing senior U.S. officials. This consideration represents a fragile diplomatic opening even as military strike options remain actively prepared.
Despite the longstanding U.S. demand for ‘zero enrichment,’ both Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and American officials have indicated that limited enrichment might be negotiable if Iran can verifiably demonstrate no proliferation risk. The proposal faces significant skepticism within the administration and among regional allies, with one senior official stating Iran must present ‘an offer we can’t refuse’ to avoid military confrontation.
Iran is expected to submit its comprehensive proposal within days, outlining both political commitments and technical measures developed with guidance from UN nuclear watchdog chief Raphael Grossi. The plan aims to guarantee Tehran’s nuclear program remains exclusively peaceful in exchange for sanctions relief.
Meanwhile, military tensions continue to escalate. The Pentagon has drafted strike options that reportedly include targeting Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his son Mojtaba. The recent deployment of the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier—the world’s largest—has brought additional thousands of U.S. troops and firepower to the region, mirroring pre-attack deployments from last year.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps has responded with military exercises in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, testing drones, missiles, and deploying ships and helicopters. White House officials emphasize that only President Trump knows his final decision, with one adviser noting: ‘He might wake up tomorrow and say: That’s it.’
The diplomatic maneuvering occurs against the backdrop of discreet talks between the two nations, with Khamenei recently warning Trump would be unable to ‘destroy’ the Islamic Republic. Both sides appear to be positioning themselves for either negotiated resolution or military escalation, with the senior U.S. official concluding: ‘The ball is in their court.’