Tehran is reportedly willing to agree to a five-year pause on its nuclear energy program, according to sources familiar with ongoing negotiations. The offer comes as part of indirect talks between the United States and Iran aimed at addressing concerns over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
US President Donald Trump has dismissed a proposed 20-year moratorium on uranium enrichment, stating it does not go far enough to prevent Iran from potentially developing nuclear weapons. Speaking to the New York Post, Trump emphasized his long-standing position that Iran must not be allowed to acquire such arms. “I’ve been saying they can’t have nuclear weapons, so I don’t like the 20 years,” he said.
The discussions in Islamabad concluded without a breakthrough. Iranian negotiators reportedly rejected a US demand to surrender the country’s stockpile of enriched uranium, estimated at around 440 kilograms. Tehran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and that it has never pursued military applications, a claim supported by what it describes as the most stringent international inspections.
Despite deep mistrust between the two nations, Iranian officials say they remain open to dialogue if the talks are realistic. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking in Beijing, reaffirmed Iran’s right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and expressed hope that the United States would adopt a pragmatic approach during negotiations.
The outcome of these talks could have significant implications for regional stability and global non-proliferation efforts.
