U.S. President Donald Trump has sent Iran a revised ceasefire proposal containing tougher conditions, despite signs in recent days that an agreement between Washington and Tehran to end the war was nearing completion, according to American media reports.
According to The New York Times, citing officials familiar with the negotiations, Trump strengthened several elements of the previous proposal before sending the updated plan to Tehran.
The newspaper did not specify the exact changes made by the Republican president. However, according to Axios, Trump is seeking to reinforce Washington’s position on several issues he considers critical, including the future of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear materials.
Trump has repeatedly stated that Tehran must not acquire nuclear weapons and has demanded the destruction of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
The nuclear issue remains one of the main sticking points in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict that began on February 28 with the Israeli-American attack on the Islamic Republic.
Among the president’s other priorities is the reopening and demining of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed since the outbreak of the war.
The tougher conditions included in the revised proposal could further prolong negotiations between the two sides.
American sources told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the White House occupant did not decide on Friday whether to sign a proposal that had been placed on his desk following a meeting in the White House Situation Room.
Later that evening, a White House official stated that Trump would sign an agreement with Iran only if his “red lines” are respected.
Source: ANA-MPA / AFP
Also read: Trump’s terms and Tehran’s response as diplomatic bargaining continues
