According to a report by Al Jazeera, on Friday March 27, 2026, US. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff issued a stark warning to Iran on Wednesday, declaring that the United States will not permit the emergence of a nuclear-armed state in the Middle East, as Washington pushes for high-stakes diplomatic meetings with Tehran before the week’s end.
Witkoff, speaking publicly on the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions, confirmed that the U.S. has formally submitted a 15-point plan to end the conflict and is actively awaiting Tehran’s official response.
“We are hopeful that there will be meetings with Iran this week,” Witkoff said, adding that Washington fully expects Iran to engage with the detailed framework Washington has put forward.
At the core of the American proposal, Witkoff confirmed, is a non-negotiable demand for zero nuclear enrichment on Iranian soil. The envoy made clear that the Trump administration views any pathway to a lasting agreement as one that must completely eliminate Iran’s enrichment programme — a position that goes further than the limits set under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
Witkoff drew a sharp parallel to the Korean Peninsula, warning that the United States is determined to prevent Iran from following the trajectory of North Korea, which developed a nuclear arsenal despite decades of international pressure and sanctions.
“There should be no North Korea in the Middle East,” Witkoff said firmly, framing nuclear weapons acquisition by Iran as an outcome Washington considers wholly unacceptable.
The envoy also reaffirmed President Trump’s personal commitment to securing a peace agreement, while stressing that the administration’s approach remains anchored in the principle of “peace through strength” — a doctrine that combines diplomatic engagement with sustained military readiness and economic pressure.
The comments represent one of the clearest articulations yet of the Trump administration’s red lines heading into what could be a pivotal round of U.S.-Iran diplomacy.
Regional governments and international observers are watching the developments closely, as any breakthrough — or breakdown — in talks could have sweeping consequences for stability across the Middle East.
Iran has not yet issued a public response to the 15-point proposal.