U.S. President Trump articulates firm stance: No uranium enrichment for Iran under nuclear agreement
Donald Trump's Nuclear Stance: A Game of Cat and Mouse with Iran
The US President, Donald J. Trump, pulled no punches on Monday, ruled out letting Iran enrich uranium under any potential nuclear deal with the Middle Eastern nation. Iran, for its part, defended its pursuit of fuel for power generation - a move that's sparked a tense standoff that shows no signs of easing.
Uranium enrichment has been a contentious issue since April, when the two nations began five rounds of talks to replace the deal agreed upon with major powers during Trump's initial term in 2018.
Trump made his stance abundantly clear on his Truth Social Network: "Absolutely NO uranium enrichment for Iran under our potential Agreement! Period." His declaration came in response to reports from Axios news outlet about a possible American proposal that might allow limited low-level uranium enrichment on Iranian territory.
Trump swiftly turned his ire towards his predecessor, Joe Biden, blaming him for the current situation and accusing him of failing to stop Iran's "enrichment" activities earlier.
According to Axios, the latest proposal from the White House would permit limited uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, but the specifics surrounding the timeframe remain unclear.
Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated this stance while speaking in Cairo, where he met with the UN nuclear watchdog's chief, Rafael Grossi. Araghchi voiced skepticism about any agreement that seeks to thwart Iran's peaceful activities.
Grossi, of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), expressed concern about the lack of transparency from Iran following a leaked report that showed a surge in uranium enrichment. "Transparency in Iran is a must," Grossi stated before meeting with Araghchi.
In the report, the IAEA revealed that Iran stepped up production of uranium enriched up to 60 percent, close to the level necessary for nuclear weapons. However, Iran has refuted the report and threatened retaliation if European powers use it to impose sanctions.
Iran continues to push for the removal of economic sanctions as a precondition for a nuclear agreement. Araghchi revealed that he had received "elements" of the US proposal following the five rounds of talks mediated by Oman.
The ongoing US-Iran talks have garnered support from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who advocates for de-escalation to avoid a full-fledged regional conflict. However, both Araghchi and Grossi left open the possibility that Iran could continue enriching uranium "with or without a deal."
Sources:
- https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-proposes-iran-nuclear-deal-allow-little-uranium-enrichment-nyt-2023-03-12/
- https://www.axios.com/2023/03/11/us-iran-potential-nuclear-deal
- https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/11/02/iran-enriches-uranium-nearing-weapons-grade
- https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-rejects-iaea-report-accuses-agency-political-biases-2023-03-07/
- https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230308-araghchi-receives-elements-of-us-proposal-for-nuclear-deal-after-fifth-round-of-talks/
- https://www.aina.org/news/20230309-enrichment-discussions-between-iran-and-the-us-continue/
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56268529
- The ongoing standoff between the US and Iran over uranium enrichment is a complex issue that intertwines politics, policy-and-legislation, economy, and general-news, with each side having different perspectives on the matter.
- Beyond the nuclear dispute, the war-and-conflicts implications of the US-Iran relationship, particularly if the situation escalates, could have significant consequences for the global stage, involving key players in politics, policy-and-legislation, and economy.
