\nAhead of the discussions, Witkoff gave an interview over the weekend to Breitbart News. He stated that, from the U.S. administration\u2019s perspective, the red line is clear: Iran must not maintain a uranium enrichment program.<\/p>\n
\u201cIran claims it doesn\u2019t want nuclear weapons\u2014so all enrichment facilities must be dismantled. There must be no centrifuges,\u201d Witkoff asserted. He referred specifically to the facilities at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan, saying they must be completely decommissioned. The U.S., he said, would only allow a civilian nuclear program under strict limitations, like those at the Bushehr reactor, which does not include enrichment capability.<\/p>\n
When asked if the talks also address Iran\u2019s missile program or its support for terrorist organizations, Witkoff clarified that the focus is strictly on the nuclear issue: \u201cWe don\u2019t want to dilute the nuclear conversation with additional matters. This is the existential issue that must be resolved urgently.\u201d<\/p>\n If Talks Fail: \u201cWe\u2019ll Choose Another Path\u201d<\/strong> Tehran insists that its goal is peaceful nuclear energy, not weapons. However, U.S. officials warn that without Iran abandoning its enrichment program, the chance of a deal remains slim.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The U.S. and Iran are set to begin another round of negotiations in Oman | Washington declares uranium enrichment in Iran is a red line | If talks fail, the U.S. may consider alternative measures.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":22515,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,6,65],"tags":[5440,4387,3964,2713,2436],"class_list":["post-22514","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","category-security","category-world","tag-enrichment-program","tag-iran-nuclear-talks","tag-oman","tag-steve-witkoff","tag-usa"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/reganews.co.il\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/nuclear-2.webp\"){kind=spacer}
<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\nThe Previous Deal Was Too Soft<\/strong>
\nIn the interview, Witkoff criticized the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), calling it \u201ctoo soft\u201d and flawed. \u201cThe previous agreement signed under the Obama administration was too lenient and included problematic clauses,\u201d he said. A new deal, he added, would be much stricter and would not ease sanctions unless Iran offers unequivocal commitments.<\/p>\n
\nWitkoff made it clear: If no clear understandings are reached, the U.S. will consider further steps: \u201cIf the talks are not productive, we will have to choose a different path.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/reganews.co.il\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/nuclear-3.webp\"){kind=spacer}
\nIran: \u201cWe Will Never Give Up Our Nuclear Rights\u201d<\/strong>
\nIranian officials, meanwhile, are holding firm. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that Iran will never agree to dismantle its enrichment facilities: \u201cIf the goal of these talks is to strip us of our nuclear rights, I declare clearly: Iran will never give up a single one of its rights.\u201d<\/p>\n