Latest news with #uraniumenrichment
LBCI
2 days ago
- Business
- LBCI
Iran may pause enrichment for US nod on nuclear rights, release of frozen funds, sources tell Reuters
Iran may pause uranium enrichment if the U.S. releases frozen Iranian funds and recognizes Tehran's right to refine uranium for civilian use under a "political deal" that could lead to a broader nuclear accord, two Iranian official sources said. The sources, close to the negotiating team, said on Wednesday a "political understanding with the United States could be reached soon" if Washington accepted Tehran's conditions. One of the sources said the matter "has not been discussed yet" during the talks with the United States. The sources told Reuters that under this arrangement, Tehran would halt uranium enrichment for a year, ship part of its highly enriched stock abroad, or convert it into fuel plates for civilian nuclear purposes. The Iranian sources said Tehran would not agree to dismantling of its nuclear programme or infrastructure or sealing of its nuclear installations as demanded by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. Instead, they said, Trump must publicly recognize Iran's sovereign right to enrichment as a member of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and authorize a release of Iranian oil revenues frozen by sanctions, including $6 billion in Qatar. "Tehran wants its funds to be transferred to Iran with no conditions or limitations. If that means lifting some sanctions, then it should be done too," the second source said. The sources said the political agreement would give the current nuclear diplomacy a greater chance to yield results by providing more time to hammer out a consensus on hard-to-bridge issues needed for a permanent treaty. "The idea is not to reach an interim deal; it would (rather) be a political agreement to show both sides are seeking to defuse tensions," said the second Iranian source. Reuters
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Iran may pause enrichment if US unfreezes funds, recognizes nuclear rights: Report
Iran may pause uranium enrichment if the US releases frozen Iranian funds and recognizes Tehran's right to refine uranium for civilian use under a 'political deal' that could lead to a broader nuclear accord, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing two Iranian official sources. The sources, close to the negotiating team, said on Wednesday a 'political understanding with the United States could be reached soon' if Washington accepted Tehran's conditions. One of the sources said the matter 'has not been discussed yet' during the talks with the United States. The sources told Reuters that under this arrangement, Tehran would halt uranium enrichment for a year, ship part of its highly enriched stock abroad or convert it into fuel plates for civilian nuclear purposes. A temporary pause to enrichment would be a way to overcome an impasse over clashing red lines after five rounds of talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to resolve a decades-long dispute over Tehran's nuclear program. US officials have repeatedly said that any new nuclear deal with Iran – to replace a failed 2015 accord between Tehran and six world powers – must include a commitment to scrap enrichment, viewed as a potential pathway to developing nuclear bombs. The Islamic Republic has repeatedly denied such intentions, saying it wants nuclear energy only for civilian purposes, and has publicly rejected Washington's demand to scrap enrichment as an attack on its national sovereignty. In Washington, a US official told Reuters the proposal aired by the Iranian sources had not been brought to the negotiating table to date. The US State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on this article. Iran's semi-official Fars news agency said Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei denied the Reuters report and said 'enrichment in Iran is a non-negotiable principle.' The Iranian sources said Tehran would not agree to dismantling of its nuclear program or infrastructure or sealing of its nuclear installations as demanded by US President Donald Trump's administration. Instead, they said, Trump must publicly recognize Iran's sovereign right to enrichment as a member of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and authorize a release of Iranian oil revenues frozen by sanctions, including $6 billion in Qatar. Iran has not yet been able to access the $6 billion parked in a Qatar bank that was unfrozen under a US-Iranian prisoner swap in 2023, during US President Joe Biden's administration. 'Tehran wants its funds to be transferred to Iran with no conditions or limitations. If that means lifting some sanctions, then it should be done too,' the second source said. The sources said the political agreement would give the current nuclear diplomacy a greater chance to yield results by providing more time to hammer out a consensus on hard-to-bridge issues needed for a permanent treaty. 'The idea is not to reach an interim deal, it would (rather) be a political agreement to show both sides are seeking to defuse tensions,' said the second Iranian source. Western diplomats are skeptical of chances for US-Iranian reconciliation on enrichment. They warn that a temporary political agreement would face resistance from European powers unless Iran displayed a serious commitment to scaling back its nuclear activity with verification by the UN nuclear watchdog. Even if gaps over enrichment narrow, lifting sanctions quickly would remain difficult. The US favors phasing out nuclear-related sanctions while Iran demands immediate removal of all US-imposed curbs that impair its oil-based economy. Asked whether critical US sanctions, reimposed since 2018 when Trump withdrew Washington from the 2015 pact, could be rescinded during an enrichment pause, the first source said: 'There have been discussions over how to lift the sanctions during the five rounds of talks.' Dozens of Iranian institutions vital to Iran's economy, including its central bank and national oil company, have been sanctioned since 2018 for, according to Washington, 'supporting terrorism or weapons proliferation.' Iran's clerical establishment is grappling with mounting crises – energy and water shortages, a plunge in the value of its currency, losses among regional militia proxies in wars with Israel, and growing fears of an Israeli strike on its nuclear sites – all exacerbated by Trump's hardline stance. Trump's revival of a 'maximum pressure' campaign against Tehran since he re-entered the White House in January has included tightened sanctions and threats to bomb Iran if current negotiations yield no deal. Iranian officials told Reuters last week that Tehran's leadership 'has no better option' than a new deal to avert economic chaos at home that could jeopardize clerical rule. Nationwide protests over social repression and economic hardship in recent years met with harsh crackdowns but exposed the Islamic Republic's vulnerability to public discontent and drew more Western sanctions over human rights violations.
Al Bawaba
2 days ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Iran offers a-year enrichment freeze if U.S. releases frozen funds
Published May 28th, 2025 - 04:34 GMT The fifth round of U.S.-Iran negotiations, brokered by Oman, has seen limited progress. ALBAWABA- In a potential breakthrough, Iran is reportedly open to halting its uranium enrichment for one year, if the United States agrees to release frozen Iranian assets and officially recognize Tehran's right to enrich uranium, Reuters reported, citing Iranian officials. Also Read Iranian President visits Oman to push regional diplomacy This unexpected development contrasts with recent hardline messaging from top Iranian leaders. Just yesterday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghechi posted on X that Tehran has engaged 'in good faith' with the UK and other European signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal, while accusing the U.S. of sidelining them in ongoing indirect talks. Iran has maintained multilateral engagement with the UK and other European JCPOA participants in good faith, even as the U.S. continues to show no interest in getting them involved in the ongoing negotiation process. If the UK position is 'zero enrichment' in Iran—in violation… — Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) May 27, 2025 'If the UK position is 'zero enrichment' in Iran—in violation of the NPT and its JCPOA commitments—then there is nothing left to discuss,' Araghechi wrote. The fifth round of U.S.-Iran negotiations, brokered by Oman, has seen limited progress. Commenting on the negotiations, Trump said the U.S. is having "very productive talks" with Iran. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has issued a 60-day ultimatum for resolving the Iran nuclear file, warning of unspecified U.S. actions if talks stall. Meanwhile, Trump recently cautioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a tense phone call against any unilateral military moves that could sabotage the delicate talks. "I cautioned him against any action that could sabotage the talks with Iran." Trump administration officials reportedly fear that Israeli action against Iran's nuclear sites could derail months of diplomacy. The White House says a diplomatic framework may emerge 'in the next two days.' However, sources close to the negotiations suggest any deal would be preliminary, setting the stage for deeper talks on enrichment limits, fuel stockpile reductions, and international verification. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Asharq Al-Awsat
5 days ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Iran Rejects Temporary Halt on Uranium Enrichment to Secure US Nuclear Deal
Iran will not consider temporarily suspending uranium enrichment to secure a nuclear deal with the US, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, adding that no date had yet been set for a sixth round of talks with Washington. The negotiations between Washington and Tehran aim to resolve a decades-long dispute over Iran's nuclear ambitions, and both sides have taken a tough stance in public over the issue of Iran's uranium enrichment. Asked about reports that Iran could freeze enrichment for three years to reach an agreement, spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told a press conference: "Iran will never accept that." President Donald Trump said on Sunday that US negotiators had "very good" talks with an Iranian delegation over the weekend. Iran is waiting for further details from mediator Oman regarding the timing of the next round of talks, Baghaei said. "If there is goodwill from the American side, we are also optimistic, but if talks are aimed at curbing Iran's rights, then talks will get nowhere," he added. The stakes are high for both sides. Trump wants to curtail Tehran's potential to produce a nuclear weapon that could trigger a regional nuclear arms race and perhaps threaten Israel. Iran, for its part, maintains its nuclear program is exclusively for civilian purposes and wants to be rid of devastating sanctions on its oil-based economy.
Arab News
5 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Iran rejects temporary halt on uranium enrichment to secure US nuclear deal
DUBAI: Iran will not consider temporarily suspending uranium enrichment to secure a nuclear deal with the US, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, adding that no date had yet been set for a sixth round of talks with Washington. The negotiations between Washington and Tehran aim to resolve a decades-long dispute over Iran's nuclear ambitions, and both sides have taken a tough stance in public over the issue of Iran's uranium enrichment. Asked about reports that Iran could freeze enrichment for three years to reach an agreement, spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told a press conference: 'Iran will never accept that.' Baghaei also ruled out the possibility of an interim nuclear deal with the US, dismissing media reports that a provisional agreement was being considered as a temporary step toward a final deal. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that US negotiators had 'very good' talks with an Iranian delegation over the weekend. Iran is waiting for further details from mediator Oman regarding the timing of the next round of talks, Baghaei said. 'If there is goodwill from the American side, we are also optimistic, but if talks are aimed at curbing Iran's rights then talks will get nowhere,' he added. The stakes are high for both sides. Trump wants to curtail Tehran's potential to produce a nuclear weapon that could trigger a regional nuclear arms race and perhaps threaten Israel. Iran, for its part, maintains its nuclear program is exclusively for civilian purposes and wants to be rid of devastating sanctions on its oil-based economy.
