The United States has started a series of secret diplomatic negotiations to relaunch talks with Iran around its civil nuclear program, according to several sources cited by CNN.
The objective would be to succeed in convincing Tehran to give up any form of enrichment of uranium, in exchange for a vast package of aids and alleys of sanctions, negotiated in the shadows by the emissaries of Donald Trump.
A massive investment in a civil program
Among the options mentioned behind the scenes: a colossal investment of 20 to 30 billion dollars in a civil nuclear program and not enriched for Iran, provided that the regime completely gives up producing uranium enriched on its soil. To do this, funds would not come directly from the United States, but from the Arab allies of the Gulf.
Other tracks discussed: the partial lifting of American sanctions, as well as the release of $ 6 billion belonging to Iran, currently frozen abroad. These proposals were examined during a confidential meeting at the White House at the end of last week, in the presence of Steve Witkoff, the American special envoy in the Middle East, and representatives of the Gulf.
Towards a resumption of negotiations
These exchanges took place despite a tense context. In recent weeks, climbing has led to Israeli and American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, to approval by the Iranian Parliament of a law suspending any cooperation with the IAEA (the UN nuclear agency), as well as a public rhetoric on one side as on the other. A fragile ceasefire has nevertheless allowed these discussions to continue in recent days, thanks in particular to Qatar which serves as a mediator in indirect contacts between Washington and Tehran.
The Trump administration hopes that recent strikes will have convinced Iran to accept American conditions. A discussed project would even include the reconstruction of an unaccompanied nuclear site in place of Fordo.
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“I think they are ready”
But the American position remains ambiguous. Steve Witkoff said he was optimistic about CNBC, speaking of a possible larger agreement in sight. “We are optimistic, all the signs are there. […] We chat with the Iranians. I think they are ready. But his boss, Donald Trump blows hot and cold. Barely a few days ago, he hinted that an meeting with Iranian representatives could take place the following week (this week therefore), while saying: “I don’t know if we are going to sign an agreement, I don’t care”.
In a publication posted on Truthsocial, the president even denied any in progress negotiation: “Tell the false Democratic senator Chris Coons that I do not offer anything to Iran, unlike Obama”, he wrote, while recalling having “completely destroyed their nuclear installations”.
