Trump envoy Witkoff cites US ‘red line’ with Iran against uranium enrichment
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Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who says the US "cannot allow even 1 per cent of an enrichment capability", at his swearing-in ceremony on May 6 at the White House.
PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON – Any deal between the US and Iran must include an agreement not to enrich uranium, US special envoy Steve Witkoff said on May 18, a comment that drew criticism from Tehran.
While Mr Witkoff was reiterating US President Donald Trump’s position about uranium enrichment, Iran’s response was evidence that the two sides have a long way to go to reach any agreement over the Middle Eastern country’s nuclear programme.
“We have one very, very clear red line, and that is enrichment. We cannot allow even 1 per cent of an enrichment capability,” Mr Witkoff said during an interview aired on ABC’s This Week programme.
Everything begins, from the Trump administration’s standpoint, “with a deal that does not include enrichment. We cannot have that. Because enrichment enables weaponisation. And we will not allow a bomb to get here”, Mr Witkoff said.
The response from Tehran was swift.
“Unrealistic expectations stop negotiations, enrichment in Iran is not something that can be stopped”, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency cited Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi as saying on May 18.
“I think he is completely at a distance from the reality of the negotiations,” Mr Araqchi said of Mr Witkoff, adding that enrichment will continue.
Mr Witkoff said he is optimistic about negotiations and thinks the parties will hold talks again in Europe this week
“We hope that it will lead to some real positivity,” Mr Witkoff said.
Mr Araqchi said the date and location of the next round of talks will be announced soon.
Mr Trump on May 15 said the US was getting very close to securing a nuclear deal with Iran, but on May 16, he said Iran needs to move quickly.
The US President told reporters on May 16 aboard Air Force One after departing the United Arab Emirates: “They have a proposal. More importantly, they know they have to move quickly or something bad – something bad’s going to happen.”
This is according to an audio recording of the remarks.
Mr Araqchi said on social media that Tehran had not received a US proposal.
During his first term as president, Mr Trump withdrew the US from a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers that placed strict limits on Tehran’s uranium enrichment activities in exchange for sanctions relief. He also reimposed sweeping sanctions. REUTERS
