US draws “red line” in negotiations with Iran

The United States insists on Iran’s complete abandonment of uranium enrichment, calling it a “red line” in the negotiations, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in an interview with Fox News.

“Before we went there (to the negotiations with Iran – ed.), the president gave me and Jared instructions, outlining the red lines — no enrichment, we must remove all the material,” Witkoff noted.

According to him, within a week Tehran could have enough uranium enriched to the level required to create a nuclear weapon.

The special envoy added that the U.S. president is “surprised by Iran’s unwillingness to surrender despite the pressure” and the deployment of American military forces to the Middle East.

The remarks follow the second round of indirect U.S.-Iran nuclear talks mediated by Oman in Geneva on February 17, 2026 (after the initial February 6 round in Muscat). U.S. negotiators Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's team, with both sides describing discussions as "constructive" or a "good start" but acknowledging persistent gaps.

By Khagan Isayev