Iran floats enrichment freeze in exchange for US release of assets, recognition of nuclear rights

Tehran hints at willingness to reconsider longstanding ban on US nuclear inspectors if agreement is reached.

By David Brummer, World Israel News

Iran signaled potential flexibility in its nuclear posture, proposing a one-year freeze on uranium enrichment in return for the release of billions in frozen assets and US recognition of its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes, the Reuters news agency reported on Wednesday.

The offer, reportedly under discussion among Iranian negotiators, could pave the way toward a broader political understanding between Tehran and Washington, though formal talks on the proposal have yet to occur.

Two Iranian officials familiar with the discussions told Reuters that the Islamic Republic would consider pausing enrichment, converting part of its high-grade uranium stockpile into fuel plates, or shipping it abroad under international oversight.

The move is seen as a confidence-building measure that might revive nuclear diplomacy, long stalled by hardened positions on both sides.

The proposal follows five rounds of indirect negotiations between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Envoy Steve Witkoff, aimed at resolving longstanding tensions stemming from Iran’s nuclear program and the collapse of the 2015 nuclear agreement.

Despite US insistence that any new deal must involve a total halt to enrichment — viewed in the West as a potential pathway to nuclear weapons — Tehran has consistently rejected that demand as a violation of its sovereign rights.

Iranian leaders maintain that their nuclear activities are strictly for peaceful energy purposes.

Crucially, Tehran is demanding two core concessions: the release of $6 billion in oil revenues frozen under US sanctions — currently held in a Qatari bank since a 2023 prisoner exchange — and public US recognition of its legal right to enrich uranium.

“Tehran wants its funds to be transferred to Iran with no conditions or limitations. If that means lifting some sanctions, then it should be done too,” one Iranian source said.

The proposed political agreement, the sources stressed, would not be an interim nuclear deal but rather a signal of intent — a demonstration that both sides are willing to ease tensions and create space for further negotiations.

However, skepticism remains high among Western diplomats, particularly in Europe, who warn that any temporary arrangement lacking verifiable Iranian concessions on enrichment may face opposition.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is expected to play a central role in verifying any freeze or rollback of enrichment activity.

The path forward remains fraught with obstacles.

Even if enrichment-related issues are resolved, a major hurdle lies in the divergent approaches to sanctions relief.

While Iran demands the immediate lifting of all US sanctions, Washington is pushing for a gradual process tied to verified Iranian compliance.

Since the Trump administration withdrew from the 2015 accord in 2018 and reimposed sweeping sanctions, dozens of Iranian entities, including the central bank and national oil company, have been blacklisted.

The Trump administration has revived its “maximum pressure” campaign, threatening military action if diplomacy fails.

Meanwhile, Iran’s leadership faces mounting domestic challenges — from energy shortages and currency devaluation to regional losses among proxy groups and growing fears of Israeli strikes.

These pressures, analysts say, may be prompting Tehran to seek a way out of diplomatic isolation.

In a related development, Iran’s nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami suggested a potential shift in Tehran’s longstanding stance on US nuclear inspectors.

Speaking at a press conference in Tehran, Eslami said that while inspectors from hostile nations are generally barred, American inspectors working under the IAEA umbrella might be permitted access to Iranian facilities if a nuclear agreement is finalized, according to Iran International, a London-based TV channel.

“It is normal that inspectors from hostile countries are not allowed, but if a nuclear deal is reached, we might allow American inspectors to visit our nuclear sites,” Eslami said.