The US has hinted that Iran is considering allowing a limited amount of uranium enrichment over an unspecified duration. This was revealed as the Trump administration put forth its initial formal offer to Iran regarding a nuclear agreement, although the specifics of this deal weren’t disclosed to the public. A spokesperson, Carolyn Leavitt, emphasized that President Trump’s stance is firm: Iran will never possess a nuclear bomb. Meanwhile, Envoy Witkov has reportedly sent a detailed proposal that, according to officials, is in Iran’s best interest to accept.
Axios, citing sources familiar with the ongoing discussions, reported that the White House did not refute its findings when contacted for comment. Officials responded by stating that the terms set forth in the proposal are stringent and designed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Interestingly, Iran has criticized Austria for its reporting on advanced nuclear weapons programs, but the White House continues to reinforce the idea that the deal’s conditions are uncompromising, rendering the possibility of a nuclear bomb impossible for Iran. Yet, there are indications that Iranian officials might reject the US proposal. Despite some aspects of the offer potentially addressing Iranian concerns, certain Republicans and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have articulated a desire for the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, prioritizing a total halt to nuclear enrichment.
A recent report elaborated on the proposal, indicating that Iran would not be allowed to establish new enrichment facilities. It would also need to dismantle key infrastructure involved in uranium conversion and cease any new research and development on nuclear centrifuges. However, the proposal reported by Axios suggests that Iran may still join a regional enrichment consortium under specific conditions. For instance, Iran could develop enrichment capabilities for private use only. It would be required to reduce enrichment concentration to 3% and close underground facilities for an agreed period after signing the contract.
This proposal also aims to implement a robust audit and monitoring system to ensure compliance with the agreement’s terms.
