Behind the Scenes of US-Iranian Negotiations: Technical Complexities in the Enrichment File and Exclusion of the Missile Program

American media sources, quoting informed officials, reported that the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue to face fundamental obstacles related to the enrichment file. The sources clarified that the divergence in viewpoints primarily focuses on the proposed duration for Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment operations, in addition to the technical and legal conditions associated with this commitment, reflecting the complexity of the negotiating landscape despite the efforts made.

In the context of technical details, negotiators from both sides are exploring several innovative mechanisms to deal with the existing enriched uranium stockpile in Tehran. Reports indicated a technical dilemma in that part of this stockpile may not be stable enough to allow for de-enrichment operations within Iranian facilities, which necessitates searching for international alternatives or complex logistical solutions to ensure compliance with the required standards.

Regarding the agenda of the talks, sources confirmed that the current understandings are limited to nuclear aspects only, as Iran's ballistic missile program or Tehran's regional activities and support for its allies are not included in the draft memorandum of understanding. This approach comes amid the parties' desire to achieve a rapid breakthrough in the nuclear file and postpone other contentious issues that could hinder the current diplomatic path.

For his part, US President Donald Trump affirmed that dialogue with the Iranian side will continue intensively over the weekend, indicating the administration's seriousness in reaching tangible results. Concurrently, informed sources mentioned that significant progress has already been made in several negotiating tracks, but the existing gaps in major sovereign and technical issues still require further coordination and diplomatic pressure to bridge the divides between the two parties.

Negotiators are discussing several mechanisms to address the enriched uranium file, as it may not be possible to fully reduce the enrichment level within Iran for technical reasons.