Secretive Consultations
President Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, quietly traveled to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for consultations with a team of technical experts on Thursday. These experts, based at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex, are crucial in uranium processing and centrifuge technology, and the meeting indicates the White House's preparation for potential nuclear negotiations with Iran. According to Axios, the U.S. is attempting to reach a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran to end the war and initiate in-depth nuclear negotiations.
Negotiations' Final Stretch
U.S. officials and regional sources involved in the mediation revealed that the U.S. and Iran are still at odds on several details of the MOU, characterizing the negotiations as in their final stretch. A U.S. official stated, "This meeting in Oak Ridge doesn't mean that a deal is going to happen, but it is a sign that the negotiations are in a very serious phase and that there is a good chance to get it done and we want to be prepared." A team of roughly 100 experts was recently established to participate in nuclear negotiations should a preliminary deal be reached.
Disagreements Over MOU Details
Last week, Witkoff and Kushner agreed on terms with their Iranian counterparts for a 60-day MOU to extend the ceasefire, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, allow Iran to sell oil, and initiate talks on Iran's enriched uranium stockpile and limitations on future enrichment. Trump requested two amendments to the text, with the Iranians indicating they would also propose changes. One point of contention is the deadline to conclude the down-blending of Iran's enriched uranium, with Trump proposing 60 days and Iran preferring 90 days. Another disagreement revolves around the release of Iran's frozen funds, with the U.S. advocating for release post-final deal implementation and Iran seeking immediate release of some funds.
Expertise and Preparation
The team of experts Witkoff and Kushner met with would be responsible for developing a plan for the disposal of Iran's nuclear material, limiting the enrichment program further, and verifying compliance if negotiations advance to the second phase. Some of these experts participated in the recovery of enriched uranium from Venezuela and previous nuclear negotiations with Iran in Oman. A U.S. official emphasized, "These are the top nuclear experts in the U.S. who know how to do the technical things that a deal with Iran will entail."
Internal Divisions in Iran
U.S. officials claim the White House has been receiving positive indications from Iran negotiators but believe there are internal divisions in Tehran over how to proceed. This contrasts with Mohsen Rezaei's statement to CNN that talks are deadlocked over frozen funds. Rezaei, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, told CNN the talks were deadlocked over frozen funds, saying "the ball is in Trump's court."
