Araghchi denies Trump talks, says Iran won’t return to table

The Trump administration discussed easing sanctions and backing a $30 billion civilian nuclear energy plan for Iran in recent secret talks, CNN reported Thursday, citing four sources familiar with the matter.

Despite ongoing military exchanges between Iran and Israel, behind-the-scenes talks continued last week and into the ceasefire, the sources said.

A preliminary proposal includes US-led negotiations and foreign-backed investment in a non-enrichment Iranian nuclear program—so long as Tehran agrees to abandon uranium enrichment entirely.

One official stressed the money would not come from the United States, which prefers regional partners to cover the cost.

“The US is willing to lead these talks,” one Trump official told CNN.

“And someone is going to need to pay for the nuclear program to be built, but we will not make that commitment.”

At least some details were discussed during a closed-door White House meeting last Friday between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Persian Gulf partners, one day before American strikes on Iran.

Iran’s army said Thursday it shot down 17 Israeli drones during the recent conflict, targeting them in the country’s western region.

The commander of the western regional base of Iran’s ground forces said the military’s air defense units had intercepted and destroyed “17 advanced Hermes and Heron drones” operated by Israel.

There was no indication that Iran moved enriched uranium from any of the three nuclear sites targeted by the United States in its June 21 strike, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday.

“We were watching closely and there was no indication to the United States that any of that enriched uranium was moved prior to the strike,” Leavitt said during a briefing.

Asked to confirm the material remained in place at all sites, she replied, “Correct.”

Leavitt also criticized selective leaks to the media of what she described as “low-confidence, preliminary intelligence,” calling them illegal and misleading. “Only tidbits of that assessment were leaked to CNN,” she said. “We have seen this playbook run before.”

She added that the FBI was investigating the source of the leak.

On reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hoped to visit Washington, Leavitt confirmed his interest but said no date had been set. “The President is obviously very open to that,” she said.

Israel’s military campaign against Iran had created a window of opportunity to expand its normalization agreements, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday, just hours after reports of a new US-Israeli plan to end the Gaza war within two weeks.

“We fought valiantly against Iran – and achieved a great victory,” Netanyahu said in a video message.

“This victory opens up an opportunity for a dramatic expansion of the peace agreements. We are working hard on this.”

“Along with the release of our hostages and the defeat of Hamas,” he added, “there is a window of opportunity here that must not be missed. Not even a single day can be wasted.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House in the coming weeks to celebrate their countries’ joint bombing of Iran’s nuclear program, Axios reported Thursday citing three Israeli officials.

Despite prior strains, Netanyahu and Trump now appear “closer than ever,” Axios wrote, presenting the attack as a shared triumph for their nations and political legacies.