Iran and the United States remain deeply divided due to uranium enrichment as both sides prepare for the potential new cycle of nuclear negotiations. While Washington requires a total stopping of Iranian enrichment Iranian, Tehran wants to continue their program regardless of any contract.
The Special Envoy of the President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, said Sunday that the United States would not accept any enrichment as part of a future job with Iran.
Newsweek He went out to State Department and the Iranian Foreign Ministry for Comment.
Why is it important
Impasse enrichment of uranium is a critical obstacle in efforts to revive diplomatic engagement between two long-standing opponents. The question is long for nuclear diplomacy, Iran says its nuclear program is calm, but its progress in uranium enrichment creates a wide potential for obtaining weapons. The current conflict signals a potentially insecure path that is before negotiations.
Carim Mir / Getty Images
What to know
Talking ABC News, Witkoff said the American position was firm. Access to the Trump administration, emphasized, begins with removing the Iranian ability to enrich completely. He noted that the United States has already communicated this position directly to the Iranian supreme leader through formal letters and diplomatic intermediaries.
WITKOFF added that preparations are underway for the next round of negotiations, will probably take place in Europe in the coming days. The American envoy suggested that conversations can lead to “real positivity” if Tehran agrees to Washington’s terms.
Iran Reject the US position
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi quickly responded, calling Witkoff’s statements excluded from the reality of the conversation. At the site of the social media, he confirmed that Uranička would be going on under any circumstances and rejected the idea that the United States could dictate Iranian nuclear policy.
In resolving talks on the quiet nuclear program Iran, our American interlocutors are naturally free to public state everything they believe to meet special stakeholders; Malign actors who set the agenda at least previous administrations.
Iran can only …
Araghchi also denied the reports that Tehran received a formal written proposal from Washington. As he admitted that Oman would soon publish the date for the next round of conversation, he accused that they were accused of sending conflicting messages and privately and publicly.
What do people say
Negar MortazawiOlder Associate at the Center for International Politics and Hosts Iran Podcast told Newsweek: “Iran has long said that as a signatory to NPT, they have the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. Zero enrichment can be a potential contract for American-Iranian diplomacy because they were a consistent red lines for them during the years and they are likely to not cross it now.”
American Special Envoy in the Middle East Steve Witkoff said: “We cannot allow any percentage of ability to enrich the ability … everything starts from our point of view with a contract that does not involve enrichment.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on x: “Enrichment in Iran, however, will continue with or without work.”
What happens next
Oman is expected to publish the time round of negotiations soon, and both parties are preparing for a meeting in Europe. Can they overcome the fundamental disagreements are still insecure.
Iranian Presidency / AP photo
2025-05-19 11:13:00
