Witkoff’s enrichment U-turn sows confusion over Trump’s Iran strategy
The Trump administration has offered mixed messages on whether it would tolerate some level of uranium enrichment by Iran.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s point person for the Iran negotiations has abruptly changed his tune on whether a future deal with the Islamic Republic should require dismantling its rapidly advancing nuclear program.
US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff wrote on X Tuesday morning that “Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program.”
Witkoff’s zero enrichment demand seemed to contradict his own words less than 24 hours earlier. During an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday night, Witkoff indicated that the Trump administration was seeking an agreement that allows Iran to enrich uranium at the level permitted under the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration.
“They do not need to enrich past 3.67%,” Witkoff said. “This is going to be much about verification on the enrichment program and then ultimately verification on weaponization.”
