In a sharp statement on Monday night, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that a future deal between Washington and Tehran would be such that Iran would be barred from enriching uranium. Trump announced this on social media without giving details of current negotiations.
The declaration comes amid renewed speculation over a potential diplomatic breakthrough between the two countries. Trump, who has consistently maintained a hardline stance against Iran’s nuclear ambitions, reiterated that Iran would never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon under any circumstances.
“We’re Close to a Deal”
Quoting recent comments, Bloomberg said Trump informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that a military attack on Iran would be "inappropriate" at this juncture, as a diplomatic resolution seems to be "very close.
Emphasizing that point, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted, "President Trump has made it unmistakably clear that Iran will never get a nuclear bomb. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff submitted a detailed and acceptable offer to the Iranian regime, and it's within their interest to accept it." She went on to add that the administration would not disclose additional information in respect of continuing negotiations.
Proposed Conditions and Iran's Response
Under Witkoff's latest offer, as reported by Axios and AP, Iran would be allowed to maintain limited low-level enrichment for peaceful purposes alone—like medical isotopes and the generation of electricity—on the understanding that Iran closes its highly fortified underground nuclear facilities for a considerable period.
In spite of these advanced terms, Trump and senior U.S. officials have publicly demanded that Iran not have any enrichment rights, which may reveal some difference between the official messaging and the behind-the-scenes diplomatic activity.
A central element of the negotiated agreement, as reportedly in the mix, is the establishment of a regional consortium to manage uranium enrichment, an idea that was discussed in the course of negotiations toward the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement in 2017 for allegedly providing Iran with the capability to have minimal enrichment capacity.
Piling pressure on the negotiations, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) revealed in a classified report at the weekend that Iran has continued to increase its enriched uranium stockpile to near weapons-grade levels since February. While Tehran claims its nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful aims, Iranian officials have grown increasingly suggestive about potential nuclear weapon development.
In a press conference in Tehran on Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei conceded that Iran wants tangible guarantees on sanctions relief under any agreement—an aspect the U.S. has reportedly not discussed in depth to date.
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