Iran talks ‘hinge on uranium enrichment, weapons program’: Steve Witkoff

Steve Witkoff says the success of talks with Iran hinges on verification of its missile stockpile as Tehran says the US envoy was told it won’t dismantle its nuclear program.

Steve Witkoff held indirect talks with Iran’s Foreign Minister. Picture: AP.

The success of talks between the US and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions hinges on

confirmation of the country’s uranium enrichment and weapons programs, Donald Trump’s envoy to the Middle East has declared.

After the first round of talks in Oman at the weekend ended with no clear resolution, Steve Witkoff told Fox News: “This is going to be much about verification on the enrichment program, and then ultimately verification on weaponisation.

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

Iran media reports that during the negotiations, Mr Witkoff was told Iran would not “under any circumstance” dismantle its nuclear program, but would provide assurances that it would not manufacture a nuclear bomb.

The Tehran Times – regarded as a mouthpiece for the regime – reported that last weekend’s talks took place in the home of Oman Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi. Mr Albusaidi acted as a go-between for Mr Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, passing a total of 10 notes between the two officials as they remained in separate rooms.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left, meets his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Albusaidi prior to negotiations with Steve Witkoff in Muscat, Oman. Picture: Iranian Foreign Ministry via AP.

The two men later met and spoke face-to-face after around two hours of indirect talks.

While insisting Tehran wouldn’t dismantle its nuclear program, Mr Araghchi said the country would provide assurances that it would not militarise its nuclear capabilities. He also said the International Atomic Energy Agency would be the only external body permitted access to Iran’s nuclear sites.

In return, he demanded US sanctions be permanently removed on a number of sectors, which the Tehran Times did not name.

The Times claimed that Mr Witkoff acknowledged the US needed to make concessions, but did not mention Iran dismantling its nuclear program.

On Tuesday (AEST), Mr Trump accused Iran of stringing out the talks, warning he would take “very harsh” actions against Tehran if the negotiations fail.

“I think they’re tapping us along,” Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, adding that it would be easy for him to “solve” the issue of Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

“I will solve the Iran problem. It’s almost an easy one,” Mr Trump said.

“Iran has to get rid of the concept of a nuclear weapon. They cannot have a nuclear weapon, and they’ve gotta go fast. Because they’re fairly close to having one. And they’re not going to have one.”

“And if we have to do something very harsh, we’ll do it,” he added. Asked if this included military action, he said: “Of course it does.”

It is not yet clear where the next round of talks will be held this weekend, with Tehran stating they will again be held in Oman, while Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani suggested they would take place in Rome.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the IAEA, is expected to visit Iran later this week.

The IAEA played a key role in verifying Iran’s compliance with its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and has continued to work in the Islamic Republic, even as the country’s theocracy slowly peeled away its access after Mr Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the accord in 2018.

“Continued engagement and co-operation with the Agency is essential at a time when diplomatic solutions are urgently needed,” Grossi wrote on X.

Mr Grossi will meet with Mr Araghchi and President Masoud Pezeshkian, the state-run IRNA news agency reported, quoting Kazem Gharibabadi, a deputy foreign minister.