Arabic version: الولايات المتحدة ترفض اقتراح إيران لوقف إطلاق النار بسبب تخصيب اليورانيوم

The White House has reiterated its stance against uranium enrichment in Iran, affirming that President Donald Trump’s ‘red line’ on this issue remains unchanged. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated on Wednesday that the initial 10-point ceasefire plan proposed by Iran was ‘literally thrown in the garbage’ by the United States, emphasizing that it did not align with Trump’s policies.

According to Al Jazeera, the Iranian proposal included acceptance of its right to enrich uranium and sanctions relief, which the Trump administration has firmly rejected. Leavitt characterized the proposal as a ‘wish list’ that would not be considered for negotiations.

Domestic uranium enrichment has been a contentious issue in discussions between Tehran and Washington. While Iran maintains that it does not seek nuclear weapons, it insists on its right to enrich uranium as part of its national sovereignty. The Trump administration, however, has focused on dismantling Iran’s nuclear program entirely.

Following over 38 days of conflict, a two-week ceasefire has been announced, allowing the US to halt its military operations and Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Leavitt confirmed that negotiations will commence in Islamabad, led by key Trump administration officials, provided that the Strait remains open.

Despite the ceasefire, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has expressed skepticism about the talks, citing ongoing US and Israeli military actions in Lebanon and violations of the ceasefire. He questioned the viability of negotiations, given these circumstances. Leavitt, however, insisted that the US military operations have significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities, claiming that the recent actions were crucial to preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.