Al-Jarida: Reveals Content of US Response to 7-Day Proposal
A high-ranking Iranian source told Al-Jarida that President Masoud Pezeshkian received the official US response to the “Seven Days” proposal, which Tehran submitted through the Qatari mediator, after President Donald Trump had previously rejected it publicly.
Iran had announced that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi received the US response via the Qatari mediator. However, the source, a senior official in the Iranian president’s office, confirmed that Washington approved some provisions of the proposal while rejecting others, without revealing the full content of the response. He stated that the core disagreement revolves around the sequencing of commitment implementation, as the US administration insists that Tehran must carry out specific conditions before moving to reciprocal measures, thereby paving the way for a resumption of negotiations.
According to the source, the US response included a roadmap demanding that Iran halt the obstruction of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, freeze uranium enrichment, and allow international inspectors access to its nuclear facilities throughout the negotiation period for a comprehensive agreement. In return, Washington committed to lifting the blockade on Iranian ports and suspending part of the economic sanctions, with the continuation of this suspension linked to Tehran’s behavior and its level of compliance with its commitments.
Following the implementation of these steps, both sides would move to a ceasefire lasting throughout the negotiation period, alongside discussions on a comprehensive agreement addressing outstanding issues between them. The source clarified that the agreed-upon measures, according to the format presented by Washington, would remain in effect for the entire duration of the negotiations.
In Tehran, Pezeshkian held an urgent preliminary meeting of the Supreme National Security Council to discuss the US response. He also called for additional meetings involving the heads of the three branches of government and security agency commanders, signaling the sensitivity of the proposed conditions and the potential scale of repercussions for any Iranian decision regarding them.
The source reported that representatives of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) expressed reservations about the clause allowing inspectors access to nuclear facilities, considering that inspections might, in their view, serve as a cover for gathering intelligence on the locations of highly enriched uranium, with a view to targeting them after the US midterm congressional elections in November.
He added that this assessment reflects a dimension of security concerns within the Iranian establishment. Tehran believes that accepting inspection conditions and freezing enrichment before obtaining reciprocal guarantees could expose it to additional risks, without ensuring the achievement of a final agreement.
The source concluded that the US demands, in their current form, would not be acceptable to Iran. He noted that ongoing discussions in Tehran are focused on the sequencing of commitments and guarantees that could accompany any understanding, amid divergent assessments regarding the prospects of returning to negotiations.
This development followed reports by Axios citing three informed sources that recent efforts by Qatari mediators had not achieved a diplomatic breakthrough between the United States and Iran, but rather only limited progress, as neither side showed willingness to concede its position.
The stalemate reinforced the conviction among both sides that the likelihood of renewed military conflict is increasing. US officials believe that Trump may order a return to large-scale combat operations after the midterm elections.
Other regional mediators, including Pakistan and Egypt, urged Iran to agree to nuclear concessions. However, another informed source stated that Iranians insisted they would not consider this matter unless the United States agreed to return to the memorandum of understanding signed last June.
Trump added, responding to questions outside the White House: “We have moved through the Strait of Hormuz in the past two days more oil than at any time in history.” He stressed that “the goal is to prevent the acquisition of a nuclear weapon; Iran will not possess a nuclear weapon.”
Meanwhile, the US Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on 13 individuals and entities, including people and companies in Russia, China, Hong Kong, and Pakistan, accusing them of helping Iran acquire weapons and components used in its military programs. The US State Department also announced a reward of up to $15 million for information that helps uncover financial networks linked to senior officials in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Air Force.
On the other side, Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, claimed that Trump is unable to make a decision after Tehran communicated its conditions for any agreement. Rezaei said that “Trump is stuck in a dilemma where he cannot negotiate nor fight.”
In addition, regional sources reported that Iran had raised its alert level at 46 facilities out of fear of an attack on its infrastructure. Among these facilities were oil and power sites, bridges, and airports.
As Tehran raised its alert status, an explosion occurred in the city of Zahedan without clear causes, while three oil tankers were targeted overnight on Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz.
Overnight on Tuesday-Wednesday, reports indicated that F-22 fighter jets took off simultaneously with a refueling aircraft from Langley Air Force Base in the US heading toward Europe, while the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt departed San Diego in a military deployment expected to head toward the Middle East.
This coincided with the cancellation by Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir of a planned visit to the United States, following the raising of Israel’s military alert level and the sensitive security situation, following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s warning of threats of an attack on Israel by unnamed groups and states, ahead of elections scheduled for late October.
