Media: Iran demands Trump-proof guarantees ahead of nuclear deal talks with US

Iran has conveyed to the United States that it is prepared to accept certain limits on its uranium enrichment program, but only if it receives solid assurances that former President Donald Trump — or any future administration — will not once again abandon a nuclear agreement, a senior Iranian official said.

The revelation comes ahead of the second round of indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington, scheduled to take place on April 19 in Rome, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

The new round follows initial discussions held in Oman last week, which both sides have described as “positive.”

Speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, the Iranian official said Tehran’s position is shaped by deep distrust rooted in the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear accord under Trump.

Trump exited the landmark deal — officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — in 2018 during his first term, reimposing harsh sanctions on Iran and reinstating a "maximum pressure" campaign. The JCPOA had originally aimed to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief.

Since the US withdrawal, Iran has gradually breached the enrichment limits set under the accord, raising concerns in the West that Tehran could be moving closer to acquiring the capability to build a nuclear weapon — a claim Iran strongly denies.

“Iran understood in indirect talks in Oman that Washington doesn’t want Iran to stop all nuclear activities, and this can be a common ground for Iran and the US to start a fair negotiation,” the official said, signaling a possible diplomatic opening.

Despite the willingness to negotiate, Tehran remains highly cautious. The official emphasized that Iran's red lines — "mandated by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei" — are non-negotiable.

He said those red lines meant Iran would never agree to dismantle its centrifuges for enriching uranium, halt enrichment altogether, or reduce the amount of enriched uranium it stores to a level below the level it agreed in the 2015 deal that Trump abandoned.

It would also not negotiate over its missile program, which Tehran views as outside the scope of any nuclear deal.

"Iran understood in indirect talks in Oman that Washington doesn’t want Iran to stop all nuclear activities, and this can be a common ground for Iran and the US to start a fair negotiation," the source said.

The official added, “Iran said on reaching a deal with the United States was possible if ‘they demonstrate seriousness of intent and do not make unrealistic demands.’”

Meanwhile, US special envoy Steve Witkoff posted on X earlier this week: “Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment to reach a deal with Washington.” The post underlines the continued gap in expectations between the two sides.

Iran has signaled that it is open to working with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which it regards as “the only acceptable body in this process” to verify the peaceful nature of its nuclear program. In return, Tehran expects Washington to lift sanctions targeting its vital oil and financial sectors.

The discussions in Rome are expected to build on the Oman meeting and could either open a path to a new framework — or reinforce the diplomatic deadlock that has persisted for years.

As regional tensions remain high, with Israeli airstrikes hitting around 40 targets in Gaza over the past 24 hours, the outcome of these nuclear talks could play a critical role in shaping the broader geopolitical landscape in the Middle East.

By Vafa Guliyeva