Civilian nuclear programme: $30bn deal from US to Iran in the works; but there's a non-negotiable condition
Iran's nuclear sites before US strikes
In a surprising diplomatic turn, the Trump administration is considering a massive $30 billion proposal to help Iran develop a civilian nuclear programme, marking a potential shift in the complex relationship between Washington and Tehran.
The proposal comes amid recent strikes by US on Iran's key nuclear sites and represents a bold attempt to bring Iran back to the negotiating table, CNN reported.
What is non-negotiable?
At the heart of the proposed deal lies a firm condition: Iran must commit to zero uranium enrichment. This requirement remains non-negotiable for the US, despite Iran's consistent stance that enrichment capabilities are essential for its energy needs. The preliminary proposal, as revealed in documents obtained by CNN, outlines a comprehensive plan for developing non-enrichment civilian nuclear infrastructure in Iran.
$20-30 billion investment offer
According to the CNN report, the cornerstone of the proposal is a substantial investment package ranging from $20 to $30 billion for Iran's civilian nuclear program. The Trump administration has made it clear that this funding would primarily come from Arab partners rather than US coffers. The investment plan was discussed during a confidential meeting at the White House between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Gulf partners, just hours before recent US military strikes against Iran.
The proposal includes additional incentives such as potential sanctions relief and access to approximately $6 billion in currently restricted Iranian funds held in foreign banks. These discussions have been ongoing through backchannel communications, even as military confrontations between Iran and Israel unfolded over the past two weeks.
US may hold talks with Iran next week
US President Trump's recent statements at the NATO summit in the Netherlands have added another layer to these diplomatic efforts.
While confirming upcoming talks with Iranian officials, Trump maintained a characteristically bold stance, claiming that US military actions had already effectively "destroyed" Iran's nuclear program.
"We're going to talk with them next week, with Iran. We may sign an agreement, I don't know," Trump stated during the press conference. He emphasized that any new agreement would maintain the same demands as previous negotiations, focusing primarily on preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Impact of US strikes on Iran's key nuclear sites
Last week, US strikes on three of Iran's key nuclear facilities. The Fordo Fuel Enrichment Plant, built deep within a mountain for protection, was targeted by six B-2 bombers deploying twelve 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs. Satellite imagery following the strikes showed surface-level damage and potential entry points, marked by distinct ground alterations and grey dust deposits. According to leaked US intelligence, while the bombs successfully sealed facility entrances, they failed to collapse the underground structures.
At Natanz, Iran's primary uranium enrichment center, multiple Israeli airstrikes and a US attack targeted the facility's underground enrichment halls. These facilities, buried just meters below the surface, proved more vulnerable than Fordo's deeper installations. Recent satellite imagery revealed two distinct impact craters above the suspected facility locations.
The third target, Isfahan, faced a combined assault from US naval forces and Israeli military assets. A US Navy submarine launched over two dozen cruise missiles at the site. The strikes' effectiveness was highlighted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who cited the damage at Isfahan as evidence of successfully impeding Iran's nuclear program.
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First Post
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Reports indicate that the majority were killed by explosive-laden drones, indicating a very high level of internal penetration into Iran. Israel has always had a formidable intelligence capability. But this was something else, and it's an open question what kind of deep assets it used when the 'go' command was given. For depend upon this. Such assets are not built overnight. That is worrying in terms of future wars. That means India has to not just up its technical intelligence for the future but also use technology to guard against such locally launched attacks – which could be on intel agencies, on high officials, and on personnel of sensitive installations. So far, the thrust of defence expenditure has been in securing the country's borders. Time to look inwards. Sindoor as Template The second aspect is rather the reverse. In many ways, the US operation, 'Midnight Hammer', was a textbook copy of 'Operation Sindoor'. Trump's announcement of having targeted 'only' nuclear sites, clear signs of talking to Iranians, and most of all, a series of moves to end the war quickly, something that the US is not known for. Those moves included allowing China to continue to buy oil – though sanctions remain – thus ensuring that outside powers did not take a hand. Iran was mollified by leaving open the possibility of sanctions relief. Then was his weighing heavily on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, to end his continuing strikes. Since the US could at any time stop its missile interception assistance for Israel, this arm-twisting was likely to have had a telling effect. The Standoff War Another takeaway from both operations is the 'stand-off' wars. Prior to US entry into Iran, Washington made sure that Israel had managed complete air superiority with bombing and missile raids. 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Time of India
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