US, Iran to resume talks as enrichment standoff threatens deal
Ahead of their fifth round of talks, the United States and Iran remain at an impasse over uranium enrichment.
You're reading an excerpt from Al-Monitor Washington, where we break down the latest in US-Middle East diplomacy. To read the full newsletter, sign up here.
WASHINGTON — When nuclear talks get underway in Rome on Friday, US and Iranian officials will test whether progress can be made on the thorny issue of uranium enrichment.
After four previous rounds of talks, the two sides have failed to agree on a deal that would curb Iran’s nuclear activity in return for the lifting of crippling US sanctions. Iran, which insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, says it’s prepared to scale back enrichment but won’t halt it entirely.
The Iranian position is at odds with what US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff said was a “very, very clear red line” for Washington. He told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday that a future deal cannot “allow even 1% of an enrichment capability.”
