US pushing for permanent restrictions on Iran

Witkoff reportedly said the Trump administration is pushing for permanent restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program without the sunset provisions used in the 2015 deal.

By World Israel News Staff

The United States is demanding Iran accept permanent restrictions on its nuclear program, President Donald Trump’s top envoy to the Middle East reportedly said earlier this week.

According to a report published by Axios on Wednesday, White House special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said at a closed-door meeting with donors to the pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday that the Trump administration will not accept the use of “sunset provisions” to limit the duration of key parts of a new nuclear deal with Iran.

Under the nuclear deal reached by the Obama administration with Iran in 2015, key limits imposed on Iran were allowed to expire, or “sunset,” over the course of years, beginning in 2023.

The use of sunset provisions under the 2015 nuclear deal was a major focus of criticism by opponents of the agreement.

“We start with the Iranians with the premise that there is no sunset provision,” Witkoff was quoted as telling AIPAC donors. “Whether we get a deal or not, our premise is: you have to behave for the rest of your lives.”

In an apparent concession to Tehran, Witkoff also said that the talks between the two countries are currently focused solely on Iran’s nuclear program.

Witkoff added that other issues, including Iran’s support for terrorist proxy groups and its ballistic missile program, could be addressed by future diplomatic tracks if a nuclear deal is reached.

Iran has in the past sought to limit negotiations with the US to the nuclear issue.

Trump’s envoy also said that the nuclear talks deal with both Iran’s uranium enrichment program and its existing stockpile of enriched uranium.

Witkoff is set to head the US delegation in negotiations with Iran in Geneva on Thursday, the third round since talks resumed this year.