Iran and the United States remain deeply divided over uranium enrichment as both sides prepare for a potential new round of nuclear negotiations. While Washington demands a total halt to Iran’s enrichment capabilities, Tehran is vowing to continue its program regardless of any agreement.
President Donald Trump‘s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, said on Sunday that the U.S. would not accept any enrichment activity as part of a future deal with Iran.
Newsweek has reached out to the State Department and Iran’s foreign ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
The uranium enrichment impasse represents a critical obstacle in efforts to revive diplomatic engagement between the two long-time adversaries. The issue has long been central to nuclear diplomacy, Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful, but its progress in uranium enrichment creates the broad potential for it to obtain weapons. The current clash signals a potentially precarious road ahead for negotiations.
What to Know
Speaking to ABC News, Witkoff said the U.S. position was firm. The Trump administration’s approach, he emphasized, begins with eliminating Iran’s enrichment capability entirely. He noted that the U.S. has already communicated this position directly to Iran’s Supreme Leader through formal letters and diplomatic intermediaries.
Witkoff added that preparations were underway for the next round of negotiations, likely to take place in Europe within the coming days. The U.S. envoy suggested the talks could lead to “real positivity” if Tehran agrees to Washington’s conditions.
Iran Dismisses U.S. Position
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded swiftly, calling Witkoff’s statements disconnected from the reality of the talks. In a social media post, he reaffirmed that uranium enrichment will continue under any circumstances and rejected the idea that the U.S. could dictate Iran’s nuclear policy.
In addressing the talks regarding Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, our U.S. interlocutors are naturally free to publicly state whatever they deem fit to ward off Special Interest groups; malign actors which set the agendas of at least previous Administrations.Iran can only…
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) May 18, 2025
Araghchi also denied reports that Tehran had received a formal written proposal from Washington. While acknowledging that Oman would soon announce a date for the next round of talks, he accused the U.S. of sending conflicting messages both privately and publicly.
What People Are Saying
Negar Mortazavi, Senior Fellow at the Center for International Policy and host of The Iran Podcast told Newsweek: “Iran has long said that as a signatory of the NPT, they have the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. Zero enrichment can be a potential dealbreaker for U.S.-Iran diplomacy as it has been a consistent red line for them over the years and they are unlikely to cross it now.”
U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said: “We cannot allow even one percent of an enrichment capability… Everything begins from our standpoint with a deal that does not include enrichment.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, wrote on X: “Enrichment in Iran, however, will continue with or without a deal.”
What Happens Next
Oman is expected to announce the timing of the next round of negotiations soon, with both parties preparing to meet in Europe. Whether they can overcome fundamental disagreements remains uncertain.
The post US and Iran Clash Over Nuclear Red Lines appeared first on Newsweek.
