Over 200 Republicans tell Trump Iran must give up all uranium enrichment
Congressional Republicans are standing firm in their call for President Donald Trump to take a hardline approach towards Iran, urging for the complete dismantlement of the regime’s nuclear enrichment capabilities. Over 200 members of Congress, including senators and House representatives, have signed a letter emphasizing the need for Iran to give up its uranium enrichment capacity entirely, even for energy purposes.
The letter, spearheaded by Sen. Pete Ricketts and Rep. August Pfluger, commended Trump’s previous withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and his administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran. The lawmakers stressed that any new deal with Iran must ensure that the regime is permanently stripped of its ability to enrich uranium.
The issue of Iran’s enrichment program has been a point of contention in recent discussions. While Trump has not definitively stated whether Iran could have a civil enrichment program without producing weapons-grade material, Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff has indicated that Iran should not be allowed to enrich uranium at all.
Despite some conflicting views within the administration, talks between Iranian and U.S. officials have continued. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi suggested that Iran may be open to temporary restrictions on enrichment levels as part of a potential agreement. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi has reiterated that enriching uranium is non-negotiable for Iran, emphasizing the country’s right to peaceful nuclear activities.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has also reaffirmed Iran’s stance, stating that calls to dismantle the country’s nuclear facilities are unacceptable. The White House has not yet provided a response to these latest developments.
As negotiations continue, the future of U.S.-Iran relations remains uncertain. The stance taken by the Trump administration, along with Congressional support for a tough approach, signals a challenging road ahead in reaching a new agreement with Iran. The issue of Iran’s nuclear capabilities will likely remain a key point of contention in diplomatic discussions moving forward.
