The core framework of a potential peace agreement between Washington and Tehran hinges on a major concession regarding the Islamic Republic's nuclear capabilities.
According to two US officials quoted by the New York Times on Saturday night, the emerging deal requires Iran to completely forfeit its dangerous stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which Iran has committed to.
While White House officials declined to comment on the specifics, President Donald Trump confirmed earlier that the United States is rapidly approaching an agreement aimed at concluding the war and restoring shipping access to the vital Strait of Hormuz corridor.
Despite the President's optimistic remarks, details on the ground remain fluid, and substantial diplomatic hurdles persist before a final treaty can be signed.
The current proposal intentionally defers the technical logistics of the transfer, leaving the precise mechanics of how Tehran will surrender its fissile material to an upcoming, dedicated round of nuclear negotiations.
Nevertheless, securing a baseline commitment from the Iranian regime to eliminate its stockpile remains a non-negotiable objective for Washington. This clause will prove essential in neutralizing intense skepticism from congressional Republicans on Capitol Hill who favor a more hawkish approach toward the rogue state.
Tehran has maintained absolute public silence regarding the breakthrough announced by President Trump.
The diplomatic concession marks a major reversal for the Islamic Republic. Iranian negotiators initially refused to include their highly enriched uranium in this opening phase of the framework, aggressively lobbying to postpone any discussion on the stockpile until a secondary stage of long-term negotiations.
The impasse was broken only after American representatives issued a stark ultimatum through international intermediaries, according to the New York Times. Washington made it clear that if Iran refused to address its enriched stockpile in the preliminary portion of the framework, the US would immediately abandon the negotiating table and resume its devastating military campaign.
The threat of renewed bombardment was backed by concrete operational planning. In recent days, American military planners presented President Trump with a series of aggressive tactical options to forcibly neutralize the atomic stockpile, the vast majority of which is stored at the Isfahan nuclear site.
According to the latest data compiled by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran currently possesses approximately 970 pounds of uranium enriched to the 60 percent threshold, positioning the regime a short technical step away from weapons-grade purity.
To guarantee compliance, the finalized framework will utilize financial leverage, according to the New York Times. A cornerstone of the deal involves the phased release of tens of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets currently blocked in foreign banks.
US officials noted that Tehran will only gain access to the bulk of these funds - which the West intends to funnel into a supervised reconstruction fund-after a final, comprehensive nuclear treaty is signed, providing the regime with a compelling financial incentive to remain cooperative.