From the perspective of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, accepting such terms could appear more dangerous than risking a limited war with the United States under President Donald Trump. A military confrontation, however costly, may be seen as survivable. Total strategic rollback may not.

Iran-US Tensions LIVE Update: Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said a draft counterproposal could be ready within the next two to three days as Donald Trump signalled he is considering limited military strikes.

In Tehran’s view, this is not just about forcing Iran back into nuclear compliance; it is about permanently altering the strategic equation that allowed it to strike Israel directly for the first time and suffer minimal consequences.

In a TV interview, Foreign Minister Araghchi gave an important update and said that Iran plans to finalize a draft deal within the next two to three days and send it to Washington.

Iran and the United States are sliding rapidly towards military conflict as hopes fade for a diplomatic solution to their standoff over Tehran’s nuclear programme, officials on both sides and diplomats across the Gulf and Europe say.

Voters have been willing to tolerate previous military interventions like the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and last year’s bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities, but have

President Trump has one bright red line for Iran's nuclear program and some areas of flexibility as he weighs military strikes or a possible deal in the coming days.

Arrivals at Tehran's airport this week mainly indicated Iranian and Middle Eastern airlines were flying to the Persian country amid heightened tensions with Washington.