Washington signals dual-track strategy as Trump highlights Iran outreach, and a sweeping proposal seeks a ceasefire, nuclear rollback, and regional reset amid ongoing tensions.
US President Donald Trump. (File Photo: X/@WhiteHouse)
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) said Iran had made what he called a major oil-and-gas-linked gesture tied to the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as a sign that negotiations between the two sides were gaining ground.
The remarks came as the United States also moved ahead with a detailed proposal aimed at ending the conflict and rolling back Iran’s nuclear programme, indicating a parallel push on diplomacy even as military pressure continues.
Advertisement
Speaking in the Oval Office during the swearing-in of Markwayne Mullin as Homeland Security Secretary, Trump said talks were already underway. “We’re in negotiations right now,” he said, adding that “the other side… they’d like to make a deal”.
Advertisement
Trump pointed to a recent move by Tehran, which he described as a “present”, as proof that the US was now engaging with officials capable of delivering outcomes.
“They gave us a present and the present arrived today,” he said, calling it “a very big present, worth a tremendous amount of money”. He later clarified that the gesture was linked to oil and gas flows and connected it to the Strait of Hormuz.
“Yeah, it was related to the flow and to the Strait,” he said when asked directly.
The President also suggested that Iran’s leadership had undergone a shift. “We have really regime change,” he said, adding that the current leadership was “very different” from those earlier in power.
He maintained that Washington was now in contact with a new set of Iranian officials and insisted that they had followed through on commitments. “They said they were going to do it and it happened,” he said.
Even as talks continue, Trump struck a confident tone on the military front, saying the conflict had effectively been decided. “This war has been won,” he said, dismissing suggestions that fighting was ongoing.
He argued that Iran was negotiating from a weakened position, claiming its military capacity had been significantly reduced. “They have no Navy left, they have no Air Force left,” he said.
Trump also said the US had dominance over Iranian airspace. “We are roaming free over Tehran… we can do whatever we want,” he added. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth backed that assessment, saying the opposing military had been “rapidly and historically obliterated”.
Despite this, Trump said Washington had paused further strikes to keep negotiations on track. Referring to a planned attack on a power facility, he said, “we held off based on the fact that we’re negotiating”.
At the same time, he made clear that the core US demand remained unchanged. “They cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he said, adding, “they’ve agreed they will never have a nuclear weapon”.
While expressing optimism that “they’re going to make a deal”, Trump also noted, “I don’t trust anybody… I don’t trust them”.
Alongside Trump’s remarks, media reports said Washington has sent Tehran a 15-point framework through intermediaries to bring the conflict to an end.
According to officials cited by The Wall Street Journal, the proposal calls for Iran to shut down its three key nuclear sites – Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow – and stop all uranium enrichment. It also calls for Iran to hand over its enriched material to the International Atomic Energy Agency within a fixed timeframe.
The plan outlines a one-month ceasefire and demands a commitment from Iran that it will never pursue nuclear weapons. It also proposes curbs on Tehran’s missile programme and restrictions limiting its military role to self-defence.
On the regional front, the proposal pushes Iran to end support for proxy groups and ensure uninterrupted maritime movement through the Strait of Hormuz.
In return, the United States would lift nuclear-related sanctions and support a monitored civilian nuclear energy programme at Bushehr. The proposal also includes removing the “snapback” mechanism that allows sanctions to be reimposed automatically.
The plan has reportedly been routed through intermediaries, with Turkey, Pakistan, and Egypt playing roles in facilitating contact, according to The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
Even with talks moving, both sides are still nowhere close, with strikes and tensions continuing across the region.
Advertisement
