The White House has affirmed its rejection of any uranium enrichment within Iran, with spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stating that U.S. President Donald Trump did not agree to a “wish list” submitted by Tehran. Leavitt indicated on Wednesday that a 10-point proposal from Iran, intended as a ceasefire basis in the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, differed from versions published by the Iranian government.
Reported details of that plan included U.S. acceptance of Iran’s right to enrich uranium, sanctions relief, and a permanent end to attacks. Leavitt, however, reiterated President Trump’s “red lines,” specifically the demand for an end to Iranian enrichment. Domestic uranium enrichment has consistently been a major point of contention in Washington-Tehran discussions. While Iran maintains it does not seek nuclear weapons, it insists on its right to enrich uranium; the Trump administration seeks to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program entirely.
Following over 38 days of conflict, a two-week ceasefire was announced. Under this agreement, the U.S. will halt its attacks, and Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz, whose closure at the conflict’s outset led to a sharp increase in energy prices. Leavitt stated that Trump’s team initially rejected Iran’s first 10-point proposal, but a revised plan was later presented. She dismissed any suggestion that President Trump would accept an Iranian “wish list,” asserting that any deal would prioritize U.S. interests.
President Trump had described the revised Iranian proposal as a “workable basis on which to negotiate” late on Tuesday. Leavitt confirmed that U.S. officials will focus on talks with Iran over the next two weeks, provided the Strait of Hormuz remains open without limitations. The first round of negotiations is scheduled for Saturday in Islamabad, Pakistan. The U.S. team will be led by Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner.
However, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf expressed skepticism about the upcoming talks later on Wednesday. He alleged that the U.S. and Israel had already violated the ceasefire by continuing hostilities in Lebanon, sending drones into Iranian airspace, and rejecting Iran’s right to uranium enrichment. Ghalibaf wrote on X that such actions rendered negotiations unreasonable.
Leavitt, aligning with the Pentagon, declared victory against Iran. She stated that Iran’s naval, missile, and defense industrial capabilities, along with its nuclear ambitions, had been neutralized by “Operation Epic Fury.” The Trump administration asserts that U.S. and Israeli attacks severely damaged Iranian military assets, despite Iran’s continued missile and drone launches throughout the conflict. Washington has stated that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon was the primary objective of the war.
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