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But for President Trump, the real question is whether any deal that fails to directly dismantle Iran’s nuclear path is worth signing at all.
Before the current conflict escalated, Trump made clear that two top priorities were preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and ensuring enriched uranium inside the country could not remain available for future weapons development.
Those goals would appear difficult to achieve under a proposal that delays nuclear negotiations while demanding immediate relief.
Reports indicate Trump is scheduled to meet Monday with top national security advisers in the Situation Room to determine how the United States should respond.
Publicly, however, the president has projected strength rather than compromise.
During a Sunday interview on Fox News, Trump pointed to Iran’s heavy dependence on oil exports and warned that shutting down shipping routes could devastate the regime from within.
“When you have vast amounts of oil pouring through your system… if for any reason this line is closed because you can’t put it into containers or ships… what happens is that line explodes from within… They say they only have about three days before that happens,” Trump said.
The comments suggest Trump believes Tehran is under more pressure than it wants to admit — and that time may not be on Iran’s side.
The White House also refused to show any eagerness toward the reported offer, making clear that public leaks would not drive negotiations.
“These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the U.S. will not negotiate through the press. As the president has said, the United States holds the cards and will only make a deal that puts the American people first, never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” White House representative Olivia Wales said.
That statement signals the administration wants one message heard loud and clear: America, not Iran, controls the leverage.
Meanwhile, signs of skepticism are growing overseas as well.
Reports last week indicated Trump canceled plans to send negotiators to Pakistan, raising fresh questions about whether the administration sees value in current diplomatic channels.
At the same time, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz offered a blunt assessment of the geopolitical moment, warning that Tehran may be outperforming the West at the negotiating table.
“An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards,” he said.
He added that Iran is “obviously negotiating very skillfully” and “clearly stronger than one thought.”
That stark warning may intensify pressure on Western leaders to stop rewarding delay tactics and demand concrete action instead of promises.
For Trump, the decision may come down to a simple calculation: accept a temporary arrangement that eases immediate tensions, or hold firm until Iran agrees to real nuclear concessions.
If the president sticks to his previous red lines, Tehran’s latest offer may be dead on arrival.
