Witkoff told a private gathering of AIPAC donors in Washington that the Trump administration aims to sign a deal without a “sunset clause.”
US envoy Steve Witkoff visiting the US’s CMCC near Kiryat Gat, Israel, October 21, 2025; illustrative.(photo credit: CHAIM GOLDBERG/FLASH90) ByTOBIAS HOLCMAN Updated: The Trump administration is demanding that Iran agree to a nuclear deal that would remain in effect indefinitely, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff told a recent private meeting of donors, according to a Wednesday Axios report.
Witkoff reportedly told a private gathering of AIPAC donors on Tuesday that the administration aims to avoid a “sunset clause” to ensure there is no limit on the deal’s duration, two sources familiar with his remarks told Axios.
“We start with the Iranians with the premise that there is no sunset provision. Whether we get a deal or not, our premise is: you have to behave for the rest of your lives,” the report quoted Witkoff as saying.
In that instance, most of the limitations imposed in the Islamic Republic were scrapped after 25 years in exchange for Iran pledging never to pursue the development of nuclear weapons.
People ride on a motorcycle as a view shows the aftermath of an Israeli strike on Evin Prison that took place on June 23, after the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, in Tehran, Iran, June 29, 2025. (credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS)
According to the report, which also cited a US official and two other sources with knowledge of Witkoff’s remarks, Trump aims to use the absence of a “sunset clause” to sell the deal domestically.
Trump on Tuesday stated that he will never allow Iran to possess a nuclear weapon during his annual State of the Union address delivered to the US Congress.
“We wiped [Iran’s nuclear program] out, and they want to start all over again, and at this moment are pursuing their sinister ambitions,” Trump said. “We are in negotiations, and they want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words: ‘we will never have a nuclear weapon.’ My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy, but one thing is certain, I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon – can’t let that happen.”
“As president, I will make peace wherever I can, but I will never hesitate to confront threats to America where I must,” he affirmed, adding that the “Iranian regime and its murderous proxies have spread nothing but terrorism, death, and hate” for the past 47 years.
Trmp administration, Iran claim to seek lasting nuclear deal
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said during a weekend interview with CBS that the regime seeks to reach a deal that would make sure the Iranian nuclear program “remains peaceful forever.”
Witkoff, alongside Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, is set to meet Araghchi in Geneva on Thursday to continue the nuclear talks.
Killing Khamenei would not trigger collapse of regime, Araghchi says
Araghchi said on Wednesday that assassinating the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would not trigger a regime collapse as “there is a system in place to replace him.”
“I’ve seen suggestions in US media about assassinating the Supreme Leader, but this is a system. It is a well-established mechanism that exists within the system itself, so nothing would collapse. Everyone would be replaced through established procedures,” Araghchi said in an interview with India Today.
“Our system does not depend on individuals. It is supported by the people. So, I am not worried at all. Even in the middle of war, nothing collapsed, and we were able to continue our self-defense,” he said.
Goldie Katz and James Genn contributed to this report.
This diplomatic meeting is seen as a pivotal moment for both nations and a last chance to avoid a military confrontation.
Illustrative image of US President Donald Trump and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.(photo credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS, Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS, REUTERS/JONATHAN ERNST)ByTOBIAS SIEGAL Updated:
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has submitted Tehran’s new nuclear proposal ahead of a third round of indirect talks with the US in Geneva on Thursday.
The document, submitted to Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, is said to counter US “excuses” regarding Iran’s nuclear program while laying out “key elements of a potential agreement,” according to Iranian media.
Ahead of his trip to Geneva, Araghchi said in an interview with India Today that Iran was “fully prepared for both options: war and peace,” adding, “I think it is possible to reach a fair, balanced and just agreement and we can achieve it. Of course, our armed forces are ready to do their job and we know how to defend ourselves, just as we did last time. We have learned a lot from the last war, so we are more prepared now.”
Thursday’s diplomatic meeting is seen as a pivotal moment for both nations and as a last chance for avoiding a military confrontation, as the ongoing standoff over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, missile programs, and regional influence continues to escalate.Culd Iran’s new proposal change the previousUS condition of zero enrichment?
On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tehran’s reluctance to discuss its ballistic missile program was “a big, big problem,” adding, however, that “the president wants diplomatic solutions. He prefers them greatly.”
The negotiations, which follow two earlier rounds in Vienna and Geneva, are crucial for both sides as they attempt to reach an agreement on the future of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear deal that has remained in limbo since the US’s withdrawal in 2018 under US President Donald Trump.
This time, the Trump administration has adopted a stricter approach, with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff recently saying the administration aims to avoid a “sunset clause” to ensure there is no limit on the deal’s duration.
Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi meets with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner ahead of the indirect US-Iran talks, in Geneva, Switzerland, February 17, 2026. (credit: Oman’s Ministry Of Foreign Affairs/Handout via REUTERS)Publicly, US officials have maintained that zero enrichment remains the standard for any deal with Tehran, but recent reports suggest that Trump may be open to an Iranian proposal that would allow so‑called “token” uranium enrichment, with strict safeguards to prevent any route to weaponization.
On Tuesday, Trump restated in his State of the Union speech to Congress that he would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon.
In an interview with Fox News on Saturday, Witkoff claimed Tehran was about a week away from being able to enrich its existing uranium to a weaponized level.
Military options still on the table
Meanwhile, Trump has been presented with military options that involve directly targeting the supreme leader, and US naval and air forces continue to arrive in the Middle East.
Washington and Tehran enter this round of talks amid increased US military presence in the region.
US officials have repeatedly warned of the threat posed by Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, as well as its continued support for militia groups throughout the Middle East. Tehran, for its part, has insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, though it has increasingly taken a hardline stance, accusing Washington of being unwilling to negotiate in good faith.A satellite imagery taken on February 1, 2026, shows a new roof over a previously destroyed building at Isfahan nuclear site, Iran. (credit: 2026 PLANET LABS PBC/Handout via REUTERS)
Tensions also remain high following Iran’s recent military maneuvers, which many analysts believe are part of Tehran’s ongoing strategy to assert regional dominance.
Meanwhile, the US has been deploying additional military assets to the region, including aircraft carriers and fighter jets, in a show of force aimed at deterring further escalation.
Last chance to avoid a broader conflict
Diplomatic sources indicate that these talks could be the last chance to avoid a broader conflict, with both sides under domestic pressure to show tangible progress.
Washington is keen to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons while ensuring its allies, particularly Israel and the Gulf states, remain secure. For Tehran, the talks represent an opportunity to ease crippling sanctions that have severely impacted its economy.
Tehran has publicly maintained an optimistic tone regarding negotiations, with Pezeshkian stating this week that Tehran saw a good chance of reaching a good outcome.
As the clock ticks toward the start of these critical discussions, analysts are closely watching for signs of potential breakthroughs or breakdowns that could have serious ramifications for the region’s future.
American F-22 fighter jets landed at an Israeli Air Force base on Tuesday evening amid rising tensions between the US and Iran.
US President Donald Trump, flanked by Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick speaks during a press briefing at the White House, following the Supreme Court’s ruling that Trump had exceeded his authority when he imposed tariffs, in Washington, DC, US, February 20, 2026.(photo credit: REUTERS/KEVIN LAMARQUE/FILE PHOTO)ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF Updated: US President Donald Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with the limits of US military leverage against Iran, according to CBS News, citing sources familiar with the matter.
This comes after aides told Trump that, unlike the recent operation removing leader Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, an operation in Iran would require more than one strike, according to the Monday CBS report. This could open the US up to a long-term military campaign in the Middle East, the report explained.
American F-22 fighter jets landed at an Israeli Air Force base on Tuesday evening amid rising tensions between the US and Iran, according to Walla‘s Amir Bohbot.
In particular, the WSJand Axios reported that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine opposed the war with Iran, a claim the president subsequently denied in a Truth Social post.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir meets with US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine at the IDF’s Kirya headquarters in Tel Aviv, November 1, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON’S UNIT)The WSJ noted that several Pentagon officials issued similar warnings to Caine, although the general was the chief among them.
According to Trump, General Caine “would [not like] to see war in Iran, but if a decision is made on going against Iran at a military level, it is his opinion that it will be something easily won.”
Trump still undecided between Iran attack scale, or potential deal, sources tell ‘Post’
Trump has not yet decided whether he wants a deal with Iran, or to launch a weeks-long war to topple the regime, or to launch a narrow attack to try to pressure Tehran into a deal more to his liking, sources indicated to The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday.
With massive amounts of fake news and speculation flooding the media, the Post understands that top American and Israeli officials are sometimes as ultimately as unsure about what Trump might do next as the general public.
One of the latest trends, which sources say has been discussed and is now being widely leaked to the media, is the possibility of Trump searching for a middle-ground decision, such as a narrow and short attack on the Islamic Republic.
