Geneva, Switzerland – Web Desk: The third round of nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran is underway in Geneva, but major differences continue to cast doubt over the prospects of a breakthrough.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the renewed diplomatic push aims to reduce the risk of military escalation in the Middle East. However, Washington has reportedly presented three key demands that could significantly complicate efforts to revive or reshape a nuclear agreement.
The United States has called on Iran to permanently shut down its main nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow. It has also demanded that Tehran transfer all enriched uranium produced at these sites to the United States.
In addition, Washington is seeking an agreement without a sunset clause — meaning any future deal would impose restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme indefinitely, rather than for a fixed period.
The reported demands differ sharply from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), under which limits on Iran’s nuclear activities were time-bound in exchange for sanctions relief. The US position signals a tougher approach amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing concerns over uranium enrichment levels.
The report comes as an Arab diplomat claimed that Iran has submitted a draft proposal to Washington during the ongoing diplomatic contacts. According to the diplomat, Tehran has offered to reduce uranium enrichment from 60% to 3.6%, a level typically associated with civilian nuclear energy use.
Iranian officials have neither confirmed nor denied the claim.
With negotiations continuing in Geneva, diplomats say the coming days will be critical in determining whether diplomacy can prevent further escalation in the long-running dispute over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
