The White House is haemorrhaging documents. Sources inside the administration have confirmed to me that Donald Trump has taken a hands-on role in rewriting the US-Iran nuclear deal, a move that bypasses State Department experts and has alarmed diplomatic circles worldwide.
Leaked internal memos, obtained by this newsroom, show the president crossing out entire paragraphs and scrawling margin notes in black marker. 'This is too long,' he wrote on one page. 'Make it simpler. America first.' The document, dated last Tuesday, was supposed to be a draft for negotiations in Vienna, but Trump’s edits transform it into something unrecognisable.
The deal, originally negotiated under the Obama administration, aimed to limit Iran’s uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump withdrew from it in 2018, calling it 'the worst deal ever.' But now, with Iran enriching uranium at weapons-grade levels and the clock ticking, his administration is scrambling for a new agreement.
'He’s rewriting it like a real estate contract,' said a senior aide who spoke on condition of anonymity. 'He doesn’t care about the technical details. He wants a headline: “Trump gets better deal.” The problem is, his changes make the agreement unworkable.'
One leaked page lists Trump’s proposed amendments. He wants to remove all sunset clauses, which would extend restrictions on Iran indefinitely. He also struck out references to International Atomic Energy Agency inspections, replacing them with 'American inspectors only.' Diplomats say this is a non-starter.
'This is not negotiation. This is dictation,' a European diplomat texted me. 'He is rewriting history and the consequences are real.'
Iran’s reaction has been swift. State media this morning quoted a foreign ministry spokesman: 'The United States is not to be trusted. This latest intervention shows bad faith. We will not negotiate with a man who changes the terms while we speak.'
Behind the scenes, there is chaos. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was reportedly not shown the latest version. Pentagon officials learned about it from a news alert. And the CIA, which has been tracking Iran’s nuclear progress, is warning that any deviation from the original framework could trigger a regional arms race.
'I wouldn't be surprised if this leaks blow up the whole process,' said a retired general familiar with intelligence assessments. 'Trump is doing this for show. But the show has real world consequences.'
I have seen the documents. They are authentic. They bear the president’s distinctive scrawl. And they confirm what many suspected: this White House operates on impulse, not strategy.
The question now is whether Trump’s rewrite will ever see the light of day. Tehran is already balking. Allies are furious. And the window for a diplomatic solution is closing fast.
Sources say the president is expected to unveil his version later this week, possibly during a rally. But if the leaks are any indication, the deal is dead on arrival.
This is not breaking news. This is a breaking presidency.
