President Donald Trump has privately conveyed to top aides that a 20-year suspension of Iran’s nuclear program would satisfy his administration’s core security demands, departing from the previous insistence on a permanent halt, multiple sources familiar with the discussions tell this newspaper.

The revelation, confirmed through high-level briefings, marks a significant pivot in Washington’s approach, driven by the White House’s assessment that a temporary freeze could buy critical time while preventing Iran from acquiring a functional nuclear weapon. Trump’s new position was communicated during a closed-door meeting with National Security Council members last week, where he emphasized the need to avoid another military confrontation in the Middle East.

Critics allege the move signals weakness, arguing that a temporary freeze leaves Iran’s nuclear infrastructure intact and merely delays, rather than resolves, the crisis. Diplomats from the European Union and the United Kingdom have privately expressed concerns that the policy shift could embolden Tehran to exploit loopholes in the frozen program. Meanwhile, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated his opposition, stating that any suspension short of a complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear capabilities would be “dangerous folly.”

The administration’s shift follows months of internal deliberations, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Elena Vasquez leading the push for a more flexible stance. Rubio has argued that a 20-year freeze would allow the U.S. to reallocate resources toward countering Iran’s regional proxies, including Hezbollah and the Houthis, while avoiding another costly military engagement. Vasquez, meanwhile, has cautioned that the policy change must be paired with ironclad verification mechanisms to prevent Iran from exploiting loopholes.

Iranian officials have yet to respond publicly to Trump’s overture, but state media outlets have dismissed past offers of temporary freezes as “a ploy to buy time.” However, sources within the Iranian nuclear negotiating team suggest that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei may be open to a time-bound suspension if it is paired with sanctions relief. The potential deal could include provisions for phased sanctions removal, tied to quarterly inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The timing of Trump’s announcement coincides with a critical juncture in Middle East diplomacy. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have signaled a willingness to engage in trilateral talks with the U.S. and Iran, provided any nuclear agreement includes strict regional security guarantees. Meanwhile, the Biden administration’s former envoy to Iran, Robert Malley, has warned that a 20-year freeze could set a dangerous precedent, normalizing temporary solutions over permanent disarmament.

1. Diplomatic Timeline — Trump’s team plans to unveil the proposal at the upcoming G20 summit in Riyadh next month, aiming to secure tentative commitments from key allies.
2. Verification Demands — The U.S. will seek to embed IAEA inspectors in Iranian nuclear sites within 90 days of any agreement.
3. Regional Response — Gulf states are drafting a joint statement to endorse the freeze, but only if paired with a mutual defense pact against Iranian aggression.

The White House remains cautious about overpromising, with officials stressing that a 20-year freeze is not a final resolution but a tactical maneuver. “This is not about trust—it’s about containment,” said one senior advisor. “We’re buying time to reshape the regional balance of power without firing a shot.” Whether Iran will play along remains the ultimate uncertainty, as Tehran weighs the risks of defiance against the rewards of sanctions relief.