An Iranian lawmaker has claimed that President Donald Trump attempted to orchestrate a “theatrical” resolution to potential U.S.-Iran tensions prior to nuclear negotiations. Mahmoud Nabavian, a hardline member of Iran’s national security committee, alleged that Trump conveyed a proposal through an intermediary suggesting a staged exchange between the two countries.

According to Nabavian, the plan would have involved limited U.S. strikes on two Iranian locations, followed by a single Iranian response, after which both sides would de-escalate. Nabavian said Tehran rejected the proposal outright, warning that any U.S. attack would trigger massive retaliation and that Iran would not participate in what it considered a symbolic or insincere show of force.

The claim comes amid heightened tensions in early 2026, as Trump renewed military threats toward Iran and the Iranian government accelerated its uranium enrichment program. Nabavian’s remarks, reported in Iranian media outlets such as Iran International, appear designed to frame Washington’s overtures as performative rather than a genuine effort at diplomacy.

While the allegation portrays Trump as seeking a controlled and limited confrontation, it underscores the deep mistrust that continues to shape U.S.-Iran interactions. Tehran’s outright rejection highlights its insistence on sovereignty and its willingness to resist perceived coercion, even when discussions over nuclear negotiations are ongoing.