**U.S. Presents New Proposal on Iran Nuclear Deal with Surprising Flexibility**

In a significant development, the U.S. has put forward a new proposal to Iran that would allow limited low-level uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, according to information obtained by Axios. This proposal, made last Saturday, diverges notably from the publicly stated positions of senior U.S. officials.

The unexpected flexibility in the proposal contrasts with the firm public stance taken by White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Both officials have previously asserted that the U.S. would not permit any uranium enrichment by Iran and would require a complete dismantlement of its nuclear infrastructure. The newly revealed proposal, however, indicates that the U.S. is open to negotiations on these points.

Iran has remained steadfast in its position, asserting that any deal must allow for uranium enrichment for civilian use. This stance marks a fundamental conflict with the U.S. public messaging but seems to align more closely with the content of the recent proposal.

The latest proposal from Witkoff, classified as "preliminary ideas," will be a topic for further discussion in the upcoming round of talks. Central to the proposal is the establishment of a regional enrichment consortium under specific conditions. This framework stipulates that sanctions relief would be contingent upon Iran demonstrating a genuine commitment, as assessed by the U.S. and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has expressed concerns over the U.S. proposal, noting a lack of clear assurances on the timing and manner of sanctions relief. This condition remains a sticking point in the ongoing negotiations.

The U.S. approach has caused unease among Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his aides, who have been advocating for a more restrictive agreement with Iran. Their apprehension underscores the broader geopolitical stakes involved in these negotiations.

This recent U.S. offer bears similarities to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which the Trump administration withdrew from in 2018. With a sixth round of nuclear talks on the horizon, the next steps in this complex negotiation process are eagerly anticipated by all parties involved.