The United States has offered Iran a new nuclear framework as diplomatic talks remain stalled, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The proposal requires Tehran to affirm that it does not pursue nuclear weapons, agree to on‑demand inspections and accept penalties for any violations.
Key elements of the U.S. plan include the transfer of all enriched‑uranium stockpiles to the International Atomic Energy Agency, a 20‑year moratorium on uranium enrichment – originally described as “permanent” – and the dismantling of the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities. The United States also seeks a complete ban on any underground nuclear work in Iran.
In return, Washington proposes to reopen the Hormuz Strait and gradually ease the naval blockade that has restricted Iranian shipping. Sanctions relief, however, would be conditional and linked to measurable compliance with the framework, rather than being granted immediately.
In an audio address on Wednesday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad‑Bagher Ghalibaf urged citizens to remain resilient amid the heightened pressure. Ghalibaf accused external forces of using sanctions and a maritime blockade to destabilise the Islamic Republic, describing the strategy as an attempt to force Iran’s capitulation. “The enemy has pinned great hope on economic pressure,” he said, adding that the Iranian people would “give their lives but will not surrender.”
Ghalibaf emphasized that a successful outcome would elevate Iran’s standing on the world stage and support both material and spiritual development. He called on Iranians to assist one another during hardships and urged experts and the nation’s elite to offer strategies that could help officials address the challenges posed by the current confrontation. The speaker also appealed to the Iranian diaspora, highlighting their expertise, economic influence and communication capabilities as “one of the greatest pillars of defeating Iran’s enemy.”
The United States’ proposal arrives as both sides navigate a fragile security environment in the Persian Gulf. While the U.S. maintains that the framework is aimed at preventing nuclear proliferation, Iranian officials have repeatedly rejected demands that they view as infringing on national sovereignty. The next steps will likely involve back‑channel communications and assessments of whether Tehran will engage with the conditions set by Washington. Continued negotiations—or the lack thereof—will have significant implications for regional stability, global non‑proliferation efforts and the future of U.S.–Iran relations.
