New details are emerging on the gaps holding up the United States-Iran negotiations
By Bernard Moerdler,
New details are emerging on the gaps holding up the United States-Iran negotiations. Iran is currently only willing to commit to not developing nuclear weapons, while Washington is pushing for concrete steps to reduce the country's stockpile of enriched uranium, either by selling it, transferring it abroad, or diluting it. A senior US official told CNN that the potential deal would commit Iran to "giving up highly enriched uranium," which President Donald Trump often refers to as "nuclear dust," but that the mechanism of disposal and the length of any moratorium on future enrichment remain to be negotiated. The official stated, "If Iran doesn't perform, they don't get anything. No dust, no dollars. As the Strait opens, the blockade loosens proportionately. This is 'trust but verify' on steroids."
The Strait of Hormuz remains a central sticking point, with Iran insisting the waterway remain under its management while Washington demands full freedom of navigation. There is also no agreement on financial relief. According to Iran International, Iranian negotiators are demanding the immediate release of $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets held in Qatar as a precondition for advancing the talks, with Qatar proposing the funds be structured as a humanitarian loan. The exact figure of Iran's frozen assets in Qatar remains unclear, with previous reporting placing the amount at around $6 billion transferred from South Korea in 2023. Iran's central bank chief Abdolnaser Hemmati is part of the Iranian delegation in Doha to discuss frozen assets, alongside Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, whose visit AFP sources stated would focus on "issues related to the Strait of Hormuz and highly enriched uranium." Lebanon is now part of the broader framework under discussion.
Topics: Iran, Strait of Hormuz, Lebanon & Hezbollah
Reported by Bernard Moerdler for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.