Over the last 48 hours, there’s been no little confusion generated in Washington as to what they are demanding of Tehran, regarding their nuclear technology program. On April 12, both sides agreed they had a good start in the discussion, and Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, had said that Washington would be satisfied with a cap on Iran’s nuclear enrichment and would not require the dismantling of its nuclear facilities.
Then on April 14 on Witkoff told Fox News anchor Sean Hannity that the Iranians “do not need to enrich past 3.67%. In some circumstances, they’re at 60%, in other circumstances, 20%. That cannot be. You do not need to run—as they claim—a civil nuclear program where you’re enriching past 3.67%.” Most nuclear energy plants function on 3-5% enrichment of uranium, but many small modular reactors employ 5—20%, and research reactors are in that range also.
And yesterday, the X account of Witkoff’s Office of the Special Envoy to the Middle East quoted Witkoff as saying, “Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East—meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program.” Separately, Axios reported that Trump had earlier in the week convened top U.S. officials at the White House to discuss the talks with Iran (see separate report).
