U.S.

Iran Offers Conditional Nuclear Talks as US-Israel Tensions Reach Boiling Point

Iran Offers Conditional Nuclear Talks as US-Israel Tensions Reach Boiling Point
nuclear
sanctions
geopolitics
Key Points
  • Iran will only discuss nuclear program militarization concerns, not peaceful infrastructure
  • Supreme Leader Khamenei rejects broader talks on missiles and regional alliances
  • Trump’s proposed deal follows uranium enrichment at 60% purity level
  • Ongoing Gaza ceasefire exposes proxy conflict dimensions with Iran
  • Sanctions cost Iran $150B in oil revenue since 2018 withdrawal

The Iranian UN mission’s Sunday statement marks a strategic shift, offering targeted negotiations to address global concerns about potential nuclear weapons development. This comes amid Tehran’s uranium enrichment to 60% purity – triple civilian reactor needs yet below weapons-grade 90% – a process only nuclear-armed states typically maintain.

Analysts suggest Iran’s posture balances diplomatic optics with technical escalation. Dr. Nima Shirazi of Arms Control Now explains: Maintaining 60% stocks lets Tehran claim peaceful intent while possessing breakout capacity. It’s a calculated deterrence strategy against preemptive strikes. The International Atomic Energy Agency reports Iran now holds 142.1 kg of 60% uranium, sufficient for three bombs if further enriched.

Khamenei’s Saturday rejection of US dialogue highlights Tehran’s red lines. The Supreme Leader framed negotiations as a trojan horse to cripple Iran’s missile defenses and regional networks like Lebanon’s Hezbollah. This aligns with Iran’s 2023 defense budget surge to $15.2B – 35% allocated to missile systems.

The Gaza conflict ceasefire underscores regional stakes. Iran-backed Hamas’ October 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis triggered retaliatory strikes complicating US-Iran backchannel efforts. A Mossad assessment leaked to Haaretz warns: Every delayed negotiation month reduces breakout timeline by 12 days.

With Trump’s proposed deal lacking European support, Biden administration officials privately estimate 8-10 months remain before Iran crosses irreversible thresholds. Former JCPOA architect Robert Malley notes: Sanctions alone failed. We’re witnessing the collapse of nonproliferation guardrails forged over 50 years.