WSJ: Iran considers limited uranium pause in talks with US

Iranian officials have indicated a willingness to take steps to advance nuclear negotiations with the United States, including pausing uranium enrichment, moving portions of their stockpiles offshore, and exploring business deals.

These moves aim to prevent a potential U.S. military strike, though it remains unclear whether they would satisfy President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly emphasised that any deal must eliminate Iran’s nuclear weapons programme, sources tell The Wall Street Journal.

According to U.S., Iranian, and regional diplomats, Iran has expressed openness to sending some of its highly enriched uranium—material critical for a nuclear weapon—to an outside party such as Russia. This step would address one key U.S. concern. Much of Iran’s stockpile is thought to remain under rubble from U.S. and Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities in June.

While Iran maintains that its uranium enrichment is for peaceful purposes, it is currently the only non-nuclear-armed country to have produced uranium enriched to 60%, approaching the 90% threshold needed for a weapon. Iranian officials have also indicated they might pause enrichment for up to three years, although diplomats note that enrichment has largely been halted since the June strikes. This proposal falls short of U.S. demands to stop enrichment entirely.

At the first round of talks in early February, Iran also suggested creating a regional consortium to produce fuel plates from enriched uranium for domestic use. However, the country has insisted on keeping the production process within its borders, a condition the United States has rejected.

By Sabina Mammadli