According to Iranian and regional political sources, the framework discussed in the previous round of talks in Geneva rests on six mutually agreed “guiding principles.” These are said to cover the future of uranium enrichment in Iran, inspections, sanctions relief and—more unexpectedly—“peaceful coexistence” with the United States.
A senior Iranian political source confirmed to Amwaj.media that the detailed proposal delivered to the US delegation in Geneva on Feb. 26 did include the “secret words” Trump has sought.
“The guiding principles are meant to secure nuclear fuel production [in Iran] while ensuring no nuclear weapons through measures such as full verification and no accumulation [of enriched uranium],” the senior Iranian source said. “This means enrichment would continue only as much as needed.”
What, then, constitutes Iran’s “practical needs”? Senior Iranian political sources say Tehran must fuel the Tehran Research Reactor with 20%-enriched uranium. The US-supplied facility produces medical isotopes. Iran also aims to prepare fuel for its next power reactor, at Darkhovin near the Iraqi border.
Currently, Iran’s only operational power reactor—the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant on the Gulf coast—runs on Russian-supplied fuel. Darkhovin, expected to be completed within seven years, would require fuel enriched to roughly 3.5%.
One possible compromise would see Iran downblend its 60% stockpile and convert it into fuel plates for the Tehran Research Reactor. Experts note that once uranium is fabricated into fuel plates, it cannot be readily reconverted for any weaponization effort.
As ever, starting a war is easier than ending one. A negotiated settlement, however imperfect, would almost certainly prove less costly than another conflict in an already volatile region. For now, Oman's foreign minister—the host of the talks—has
relayed "significant progress," with the view that "discussions on a technical level" will take place in Vienna next week. That assessment appears to be shared by Iranian and US negotiators. How consultations in capitals may take shape remains to be seen.
In public, the Donald Trump administration has issued three sweeping demands of Iran: end uranium enrichment, halt support for regional allies and curb its ballistic missile program. Yet in negotiations held this month in Muscat and Geneva, the talks have centered narrowly on the nuclear file...
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