Witkoff indicates US seeks to cap Iran uranium enrichment, not dismantle nuclear program altogether

US special envoy to the Mideast Steve Witkoff appears to use a key component of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal signed during the Obama administration as a reference point for the current talks he’s holding with Tehran.

That deal, which US President Donald Trump abandoned in 2018 and has long criticized, barred Iran from enriching its uranium beyond 3.67%.

Iran “do[es] not need to enrich past 3.67%. In some circumstances. They’re at 60%, in other circumstances 20%. That cannot be,” Witkoff tells Fox News. “You do not need to run — as they claim — a civil nuclear program where you’re enriching past 3.67%.”

The comments indicate that the US is looking to limit Iran’s uranium enrichment rather than dismantle its nuclear program altogether as Israel has demanded.

Witkoff says the next round of talks with Iran will focus on “verification on the enrichment program and then ultimately verification on weaponization.”

“That includes missiles — the type of missiles that they have stockpiled there. And it includes the trigger for a bomb,” he adds.

“We’re here to see if we can solve this situation diplomatically and with dialogue. The first meeting was positive, constructive, compelling,” Witkoff says.

Pressed on whether US inspectors — rather than ones from the UN — would be the one to verify that Iran is adhering to any deal that is reached, Witkoff declines to answer directly.

???????? ???????? WITKOFF: TRUMP’S PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH MESSAGE IS CLEAR—IRAN CANNOT HAVE A BOMB

"The President means what he says: they cannot have a bomb. Talks with Iran will focus on two points—enrichment and weaponization.

They don’t need to enrich beyond 3.67%.

This is about… https://t.co/2EDMldwvrX pic.twitter.com/qsrILQIVUg

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 15, 2025