Iran’s Nuclear Talks and Straits of Hormuz Negotiations
On Wednesday, the Tasnim news agency from Iran reported that a high-ranking official from the National Security Council indicated that the country’s enriched uranium stockpile was not discussed during initial peace talks with the United States.
Ali Baqeri, the Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Council, asserted that the discussions were focused mainly on reinstating commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Since March, Iran has effectively hindered normal commerce in this crucial waterway, hinting at potential attacks on vessels to disrupt global trade.
Baqar’s comments regarding the lack of focus on uranium directly contradict statements from the White House. Notably, President Trump has made it clear that the U.S. would not agree to any peace arrangement that does not place longstanding restrictions on Iran’s nuclear initiatives, including the securing and dismantling of enriched uranium.
Earlier this year, Trump launched Operation Epic Fury, aiming to curtail Iran’s military might and remove its most aggressive jihadist leadership. The operation resulted in the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, on its first day, along with subsequent eliminations of several key leaders. In April, Trump agreed to an indefinite ceasefire, opening a channel for discussions about a long-term peace agreement with the help of mediators from Pakistan and Qatar.
Baqeri noted that there has been some progress in talks, but he stressed that these discussions do not involve Iran’s nuclear stockpile. He stated that enriched uranium was “not at all on the agenda” of the peace talks during the first International Security Forum in Moscow.
Additionally, Baqeri mentioned that even if progress was made on some points, it doesn’t imply that a solid agreement is guaranteed. “Unless we come to terms on all matters, nothing will be considered finalized,” he was quoted as saying.
The Tasnim agency also reported that Iranian state television claimed there is a draft peace agreement aimed at resolving issues in the Strait of Hormuz. However, it is unclear if this alleged agreement addressed Iran’s unlawful nuclear activities. The Iranian media suggested that the deal would normalize maritime traffic in the Strait within a month and mentioned that Trump had consented to significantly reduce the U.S. military footprint in the Middle East while lifting the blockade on Iranian shipping in response to Iran’s actions against other nations’ vessels.
In response, the White House dismissed these reports on Wednesday, labeling them as “false” and asserting that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) does not exist. Officials emphasized that Iranian state media reports should not be trusted.
Both President Trump and officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio have reiterated their stance against any peace agreement that fails to confront Iran’s illegal nuclear activities, particularly its uranium enrichment beyond civilian necessities. Recently, Trump hinted that negotiations to address Iran’s uranium reserves were progressing towards a conclusion.
In his remarks, Trump mentioned that the enriched uranium would need to be promptly handed over to the U.S. for destruction, either directly or in coordination with Iran. He further indicated that discussions that week with Iranian officials were “orderly and constructive,” with a focus on persuading Qatar to release Iranian funds frozen due to anti-terrorism sanctions.
Sources indicated that Iran’s broader negotiating posture insists on the unfreezing of assets globally as part of a comprehensive agreement. This week, several of Iran’s top officials traveled to Doha, Qatar, to further negotiate the peace deal.
However, some reports warned that ongoing U.S. airstrikes targeting Iranian maritime capabilities might hinder these negotiations. The Iranian regime, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), issued threats against U.S. forces while claiming to have downed a U.S. drone, although this has yet to be confirmed by U.S. military sources. As of now, the ceasefire seems to be holding, except for isolated incidents.
