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In a dramatic shift from bombs to diplomacy, the Trump administration is reportedly considering a bold new offer to Iran: up to $30 billion in foreign financing to help build a nuclear energy program, so long as Tehran agrees to give up uranium enrichment entirely.
The proposal, first reported by CNN, follows last week’s joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and is being pitched as a way to get Iran back to the negotiating table and avoid another cycle of escalation.
According to sources familiar with the talks, the plan includes a mix of Gulf-funded investments, sanctions relief, and a reconstruction package for Iran’s damaged Fordow facility, with one red line: zero enrichment.
Cash for compliance?
The proposed package is eye-catching:
- $20–30 billion to help Iran build a civilian nuclear power plant.
- No money from the U.S., funding would mostly come from Gulf countries like Qatar and the UAE.
- A possible unfreezing of $6 billion in Iranian assets held in foreign banks.
- In return, Iran must agree to completely abandon uranium enrichment, even for peaceful use.
Tehran has consistently rejected such terms, saying the right to enrich uranium is a matter of national sovereignty. But U.S. officials appear to be betting that a mix of pressure and incentives might be enough to shift the conversation.
The Fordow twist
One new angle in the reported plan: rebuilding the Fordow facility, which was damaged in last week’s U.S. strikes. Rather than leaving it in ruins, the U.S. and its allies are floating the idea of converting the site into a strictly peaceful, non-enrichment facility.
Trump says, “I Don’t care,” but his team’s in overdrive
Publicly, Donald Trump has played down the possibility of a deal, telling reporters, “I don’t care if there’s a deal or not.” But behind the scenes, it’s a different story.
Steve Witkoff, a special envoy, is said to have held secret talks at the White House with Arab allies last week, with Qatar once again playing mediator, just as it did in brokering the recent fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
In an unexpected twist, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also involved, saying the U.S. wants direct talks with Iran, not back-channel diplomacy. “We would like peaceful relations with every country in the world,” Rubio said during a visit to The Hague, “but that depends on Iran’s willingness to negotiate directly.”
Trouble brewing
Despite the talk of deals, tensions remain sky-high. Iran’s parliament just voted to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, fueling fears that the country may be edging closer to developing a nuclear weapon.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials hope their carrot-and-stick approach, airstrikes paired with economic incentives, might push Iran toward serious talks.
Trump has said a meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials could happen as early as next week, though Tehran says it hasn’t been informed of any such plans.
*With information from iefimerida.gr
