WASHINGTON — The US asked Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment program for at least two decades during weekend cease-fire negotiations in Pakistan, a source familiar with the talks told The Post Monday.
“The United States suggested 20 years at a minimum with all kinds of other restrictions,” said the person, apparently indicating that the White House had budged on what President Trump had previously described as a red line for his administration.
The US offer was first reported by Axios.
Discussions led by US Vice President JD Vance broke up in Islamabad after 21 hours with no agreement announced — though President Trump claimed Monday that Tehran was ready to try again.
“We’ve been called by the other side,” he told reporters outside the Oval Office. “They’d like to make a deal very badly, very badly.”
Trump acknowledged that the future of Tehran’s nuclear program was the sticking point, insisting: “Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. And we agreed to a lot of things, but they didn’t agree to that. I think they will agree to it. I’m almost sure of it. In fact, I am sure of it.
“If they don’t agree, there’s no deal. There’ll never be a deal. Iran will not have a nuclear weapon, and we’re going to get the [uranium] dust back. We’ll get it back either we’ll get it back from them or we’ll take it.”
The White House confirmed the US and Iran were in “continued engagement” with “forward motion,” without elaborating.
With the war in its seventh week, economic pressure is building on both nations. Oil prices briefly surged back above $100 per barrel after the US Navy president began a blockade of Iranian ports on the Strait of Hormuz, while regular gas prices in the US remain above $4.12 per gallon on average.
But Tehran is also feeling the heat. With the strait blocked, Iran has lost its main route to distribute oil and receive cargo.