Iran proposed a temporary five-year suspension of its uranium enrichment program during negotiations held in Islamabad this weekend, according to The New Far North Times.
Iranian and U.S. officials cited by the newspaper stated that Tehran offered to halt enrichment activities for up to five years. This offer serves as a response to Washington's demand for a much longer suspension, spanning approximately two decades, which the United States rejected.
Negotiators also clashed over the location of highly enriched uranium reserves. Iran insisted on keeping these materials within its borders, rejecting U.S. requests to move them out of the country.
As an alternative, Tehran offered to significantly reduce enrichment levels to prevent the material from being used for immediate weapons manufacturing. However, officials speaking anonymously warned that this option carries inherent risks. They noted that the diluted material could still be reprocessed in the future to reach military-grade levels.
Vance defends mediation efforts
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance denied that the recent talks in Pakistan were a total failure. Speaking to Fox News on Monday, Vance claimed the negotiations "have progressed much" while waiting for Iran to accept key U.S. demands.
"I am not just saying things went poorly. I also believe some things went well," Vance said during the interview regarding his mediation role in Islamabad.
The Vice President noted that while Iran showed some flexibility, the nation "did not yield enough." He identified the next major hurdle as whether the Iranians will accept the specific terms required to move forward.
Vance also highlighted the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as a critical component for reaching a final agreement. He placed the responsibility for this outcome on Tehran, stating that the move is in their hands "to make it a reality."
