Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s Middle East envoy, said in a statement on Tuesday that Iran must “eliminate its nuclear enrichment” program, suggesting the Trump administration is hardening its position in negotiations with Tehran.
Witkoff made the comments a day after appearing on Fox News and suggesting that the US wanted Iran to reduce its levels of nuclear enrichment to 3.67%, the enrichment level under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, which President Trump withdrew from in 2018. Iran currently enriches some uranium at 20% and 60%, still below the 90% needed for weapons-grade.
Witkoff’s comments on Fox signaled that the US was not demanding the full dismantlement of Iran’s civilian nuclear program, which is believed to be a non-starter for Tehran. After strong backlash from Iran hawks, Witkoff appeared to reverse his stance in the statement he released on Tuesday.
“A deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal. 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,” Witkoff said in a statement released by his office.
“It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do,” Witkoff added.
Witkoff participated in the indirect negotiations between the US and Iran this past weekend and briefly spoke directly with the leader of the Iranian delegation, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. While both sides said the talks went well, and another round is scheduled for this Saturday, President Trump suggested on Monday that Iran was “tapping” the US and repeated his threat of military action if a deal isn’t reached.
Trump has been threatening to bomb Iran over its nuclear program even though US intelligence agencies recently said in their annual threat assessment that there’s no evidence that Tehran is building a nuclear bomb or that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has reversed his 2003 fatwah that banned the production of weapons of mass destruction. Aragchi has also made clear that Iran is willing to reaffirm its pledge that it doesn’t seek nuclear weapons and allay any concerns the US may have when it comes to weaponization.
