Uranium enrichment halts Iran-US nuclear talks

Iran is poised to reject US proposals, which were given to them on the 31st of May, concerning the future of its nuclear programme. The US is intent on Iran suspending the enrichment of uranium inside the country.

According to The Guardian, the US proposals were the first written out of the five rounds of talks that have taken place. The key issue for Iran is the lack of inclusion in Iran’s uranium enrichment programme.

The proposal was given to Iran on the 31st of May by the Omani foreign minister, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, who visited Tehran.

The need for a deal is of high priority for Iran, as a failure would likely see European nations impose heavier sanctions on the Middle Eastern country and the possibility of joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.

The potential of these developments would lead many analysts to believe that Iran will reject the US’s current offer but continue negotiations.

It’s believed that the most likely compromise is that Iran would theoretically be allowed to conduct uranium enrichment in principle, but would not do so in practice.

The US has proposed that Iran join a Middle East uranium enrichment consortium with Saudi Arabia, but not on Iranian soil, requiring extensive international monitoring and unprecedented regional cooperation.

There was also the idea being floated that if Iran allowed US inspectors into facilities, then enrichment could take place at low levels.

This idea has seemingly gone out the window as on the 2nd of June Trump announced that Iran could not enrich uranium under any nuclear deal.

Iran is expected to reply to the US deal shortly, as the issue of the Iranian nuclear deal continues to find no solution.

The Guardian/Maghrebi.org