Overview
- Multiple outlets, citing the Washington Post, report that Trump authorized U.S. negotiators to explore an Iran deal that resembles the 2015 pact, including the return of frozen funds and nuclear limits that expire over time.
- One option under discussion would unfreeze about $20 billion in Iranian money held abroad in exchange for securing Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
- Talks appear paused after the White House extended a cease-fire and asked Tehran for a single, unified proposal, according to the latest reporting.
- Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has not returned to normal, with a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and Iran’s control claims slowing traffic and adding strain to global energy prices.
- The shift marks a sharp reversal from years of attacks on the Obama-era deal and could leave Iran’s hard-line rulers, who crushed January’s protests, with more resources if sanctions are eased.