Trump Says Iran Set to Offer Proposal Aimed at Meeting U.S. Demands

"They're making an offer and we'll have to see," Trump said during a phone interview.

Trump ​said he did not know what the offer would ​be yet. He has been adamant that any ⁠deal include Iran giving up its enriched uranium and allowing ​freedom of oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

US envoys ​Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner plan to depart on Saturday for the Pakistani capital Islamabad for talks with an Iranian delegation.

Trump on Thursday ​had expressed concern about who was leading Iran, and ​US officials have said they believe the leadership is fractured.

On Friday, when ‌asked ⁠who the US was negotiating with, Trump said: "I don't want to say that, but we're dealing with the people that are in charge now."

Also Read: Iran talks: Witkoff, Kushner to arrive in Islamabad tomorrow

He declined to provide names.

Reuters reported ​earlier that Iran's ​Foreign Minister ⁠Abbas Araqchi was expected in Islamabad on Friday to discuss proposals for restarting peace talks ​with the US. 

Trump has insisted the US ​military will ⁠maintain a blockade against Iran's ports until an agreement is reached.

When asked what is needed to lift the blockade, Trump ⁠said: "I'd ​have to be able to answer ​that question later. I have to see what they're offering."

Increased economic pressure

Moreover, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is increasing economic pressure on Iran. He said Washington is taking decisive steps to stop Iran’s illegal oil trade and will further intensify pressure on the networks supporting Iranian commerce.

He said the renewed economic pressure on Tehran is part of Operation Economic Fury.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also said in a statement on social media that Operation Economic Fury against Iran will continue. He said the policy of economic pressure is aimed at weakening Iran by preventing it from generating income and transferring funds abroad. 

He said the US Treasury will continue to systematically degrade Tehran’s ability to generate, move and repatriate funds under Operation Economic Fury.

According to Bessent, Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has imposed sanctions on multiple crypto wallets linked to Iran, resulting in the freezing of approximately $344 million in cryptocurrency.

Also Read: Araghchi, team arrive in Islamabad for regional talks

“We will follow the money that Tehran is desperately attempting to move outside the country and target all financial lifelines tied to the regime,” he said. 

Bessent added that Operation Economic Fury is imposing a financial stranglehold on the Iranian regime, hampering its aggression in the Middle East and helping curb its nuclear ambitions.

He said that, at the direction of President Donald Trump, the Treasury Department will continue tightening restrictions on the network of vessels, intermediaries and buyers that Iran relies on to move its oil to global markets.

Bessent warned that any person or vessel facilitating these flows through covert trade and finance risks exposure to US sanctions.