Iran delivered its response to the latest U.S. amendments to a draft plan to end the war, but President Trump said told reporters he was "not satisfied with what they are offering."
The big picture: The Iranian response is a signal that the diplomacy is not entirely frozen. It comes as Trump maintains a U.S. naval blockade and considers new military action against Iran.
- A regional official told Axios the response was delivered to the U.S. on Thursday via Pakistani mediators.
- On Friday, Trump told reporters: "We have just had a conversation with Iran. We will see what happens. But I am not happy."
Catch up quick: Last weekend, Iran gave the U.S. a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, with nuclear negotiations postponed for a later stage.
- On Monday, White House envoy Steve Witkoff sent a list of amendments that focus on inserting the nuclear issue back into the draft text, according to a source with knowledge.
- The source said one of the amendments included a demand that Iran commit not to try to move any enriched uranium out of its bombed nuclear facilities, or restart any activity at those sites, as long as negotiations continue.
What they're saying: Trump said the Iranian leadership is "very disjointed" and includes factions that disagree on the way forward. "They have made strides but I am not sure they will ever get there," he told reporters in the Oval Office.
- A day earlier, Trump said "they want to make a deal badly," but "nobody knows for sure who the leaders are."
- The Iranians claim it's Trump who is desperate for a deal.
- "We do not detail private diplomatic conversations. President Trump has been clear that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon, and negotiations continue to ensure the short- and long-term national security of the United States," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told Axios.
The other side: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in phone call with his counterparts from Turkey, Egypt and Qatar that Iran is ready to pursue diplomacy "if the excessive demands, threatening rhetoric, and provocative actions of the American side change," per Tehran's readout.
Behind the scenes: On Thursday afternoon, Trump huddled with his top national security team on Iran for around 45 minutes in the White House Situation Room.
- Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Witkoff attended.
- CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine briefed Trump and his team on new plans for possible military action against Iran, two U.S. officials said.
What's next: "There are options. Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of them and finish them forever or do we want to try and make a deal. Those are the options," Trump said on Friday when asked about the briefing.
- He added that he prefers not to resume the bombing.
