‘Enrichment Enables Weaponization’: Witkoff Emphasizes Zero Enrichment for Iran

Latest Developments

• Iran Cannot Have Nuclear Enrichment: The United States drew a “very clear red line” that it will not allow Iran to enrich uranium domestically under a new nuclear agreement, said White House Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff on May 18. “We cannot allow even 1 percent of an enrichment capability,” Witkoff stated, emphasizing that “enrichment enables weaponization” of a nuclear bomb. Negotiators from the United States and Iran are expected to meet for a fifth round of indirect nuclear negotiations in Rome this weekend, although neither party has confirmed the date.
• Tehran Says Enrichment Cannot Be Stopped: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected Witkoff’s statements as “unrealistic,” adding, “enrichment in Iran is not something that can be stopped.” On May 14, Ali Shamkhani, a top Iranian advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated that Iran was willing to commit to a deal that eliminates its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium but allows Tehran to continue enriching to the lower levels required for civilian nuclear energy.
• ‘Move Quickly’ on American Proposal: President Donald Trump said on May 16 that Washington had sent Iran a U.S. proposal for a nuclear deal. Iran should “move quickly, or something bad is going to happen,” Trump said. Araghchi denied that Tehran had received a written proposal. Iran is currently enriching uranium to a 60 percent purity level, which has no civilian purpose and accounts for 99 percent of the effort needed to produce weapons-grade material.

FDD Expert Response

“Ambassador Witkoff has made clear that the administration’s policy is no enrichment for Iran, riding a wave of support from more than 200 members of Congress who demanded the same last week. Iran must peacefully dismantle its atomic weapons program. It can retain civil nuclear benefits that 23 other countries have without domestic enrichment or reprocessing, ensuring that the means of making fuel for nuclear weapons doesn’t spread.” — Andrea Stricker, Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program Deputy Director and Research Fellow

“The White House position that zero enrichment will be the standard for any deal with Iran kills two birds with one stone. The policy will shut the door on arguments that Iran is entitled to domestic enrichment even while it is in violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. It will also put an end to proposals for a regional nuclear consortium to provide nuclear material. A zero-enrichment standard will force other regional nuclear aspirants to adhere to a bilateral civilian power agreement with the United States, which reduces the chance of nuclear material being diverted for malign purposes.” — Tyler Stapleton, Director of Congressional Relations, FDD Action

FDD Background and Analysis

“Iran’s Nuclear Disarmament: The Only Deal That Protects U.S. and Allied Security,” by Orde Kittrie, Andrea Stricker, and Behnam Ben Taleblu

“‘For Us, Martyrdom is Far Sweeter’: Pezeshkian Says Iran Will Not Be ‘Bullied’ Into Nuclear Deal With U.S.,” FDD Flash Brief

“Congressional Republicans Back Full Dismantlement of Iranian Nuclear Program in Letters to Trump,” FDD Flash Brief

“Any Iranian Enrichment Gives Tehran a Path to Nuclear Weapons,” by Andrea Stricker