From the Liveblog of
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Witkoff: US ‘red line’ in Iran talks is any ability for enrichment
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff says the Trump administration’s “red line” in nuclear talks with Iran is that Iran cannot maintain any ability to enrich uranium.
“We have one very, very clear red line, and that is enrichment. We cannot allow even 1% of an enrichment capability,” Witkoff tells ABC’s “This Week.”
“Everything begins… with a deal that does not include enrichment… because enrichment enables weaponization, and we will not allow a bomb to get here,” he adds.
Earlier this year, Witkoff had indicated that the US would accept Iran maintaining a limited enrichment capability, but the Trump administration has since hardened its public stance.
“We’ve delivered a proposal to the Iranians that we think addresses some of this without disrespecting them,” Witkoff says. “We want to get to a solution here, and and we think that we will be able to.”
Witkoff says negotiators will likely be meeting this week in Europe for another round of talks. “We hope that it will lead to some real positivity.”
The Times of Israel Community.