Iran to Counter US Nuclear Offer as Trump Sends New Warning
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A senior Iranian official has announced that Tehran is drafting a counter-proposal to the latest U.S. offer on its nuclear program, rejecting the American plan as insufficient and "clumsy."
The statement came as President Donald Trump warned time is running out for Iran to make a decision regarding its nuclear ambitions, revealing that Russian President Vladimir Putin may join the negotiations.
Ali Shamkhani, a top advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told Lebanon's al-Mayadeen TV that the U.S. offer fails to address a primary demand, which is the lifting of sanctions.
Newsweek has reached out to the State Department and Iran's foreign ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
The renewed push on negotiations underscores the urgency. While the U.S. seeks to curb Iran's uranium enrichment, Tehran is refusing to scale back without economic concessions. With Russia possibly entering the fray, the geopolitical stakes are rising in a region already mired in instability. Trump's framing of Iran's delay as deliberate "slow walking" adds new pressure to a rapidly narrowing diplomatic window. Iran's insistence on its "natural rights" could complicate efforts to revive a negotiated solution.
Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran attends a meeting with the diplomatic advisor to the French president, in the Iranian capital Tehran, on July 10, 2019. - Iran has...
Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran attends a meeting with the diplomatic advisor to the French president, in the Iranian capital Tehran, on July 10, 2019. - Iran has breached a uranium enrichment cap set by a troubled 2015 nuclear deal and warned Europe against taking retaliatory measures, as France decided to send an envoy to Tehran to try to calm tensions. MoreWhat to Know
Ali Shamkhani criticized the U.S. proposal as poorly constructed and lacking critical elements. He said Iran was already working on a new response. "After receiving the American proposal regarding the Iranian nuclear program, we are now preparing our new counter-proposal," he stated. Shamkhani underscored that the absence of sanctions relief rendered the U.S. plan unacceptable. He called the omission a "fundamental" failure and reaffirmed Iran's position that it would never give up uranium enrichment, a key component of its nuclear program.
'Time Running Out'
Meanwhile, Trump criticized Tehran for what he described as deliberate stalling. Writing on social media, he said, "It is my opinion that Iran has been slow walking their decision on this very important matter. We will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time." Trump also revealed that Putin could play a role in negotiations over Iran's nuclear ambitions, following an extended phone call between the two leaders. "We also discussed Iran, and the fact that time is running out on Iran's decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly," Trump stated.
Donald J. Trump Truth Social 06.04.25 01:56 PM EST pic.twitter.com/HnHpqeUToO — Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) June 5, 2025
Diplomatic Process
Since early this year, the U.S. and Iran have resumed nuclear talks, mediated by Oman and Italy, aimed at reviving or replacing the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The JCPOA was a landmark agreement between Iran and six world powers—China, France, Germany, Russia, the U.K., and the U.S.—under which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program in exchange for relief from international sanctions. In 2018, Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from the deal, calling it flawed and imposing a "maximum pressure" campaign on Tehran.
The current dialogue was reinitiated after Trump, who sent a letter to Iran expressing a willingness to negotiate. Talks have since been bogged down over core disagreements: Iran demands full sanctions relief and the right to continue uranium enrichment, while the U.S. seeks stricter curbs on Iran's nuclear activity. During the impasse, Iran has expanded its stockpile of enriched uranium, raising international concern.
Donald Trump said August 15, 2020 he will try a controversial "snapback" to force a return of UN sanctions against Iran, after the Security Council rejected Washington's bid to extend the arms embargo against the...
Donald Trump said August 15, 2020 he will try a controversial "snapback" to force a return of UN sanctions against Iran, after the Security Council rejected Washington's bid to extend the arms embargo against the Islamic republic. MoreWhat People Are Saying
Ali Shamkhani, senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader: "There is no mention whatsoever of lifting sanctions in the latest American proposal, even though the issue of sanctions is a fundamental matter for Iran."
President Donald Trump: "It is my opinion that Iran has been slow walking their decision on this very important matter."
What Happens Next
Iran is expected to unveil its counter-proposal in the coming days, setting the stage for a new round of diplomacy possibly involving Russia, as the U.S. presses for swift resolution on Tehran's nuclear future.
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