Trump Insists on ‘Zero’ Enrichment as Talks With Iran Begin

Zero has become the central demand as the Trump administration opens talks with Iran: none of the enriched uranium Mr. Trump says he would allow under any deal. His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, put it plainly on ABC News, saying, “We have one very, very clear red line, and that is enrichment,” and adding, “We cannot allow even 1 percent of an enrichment capability.” That position is what Mr.

Witkoff carried to meetings with Iranian officials in Oman. Iran rejects the demand. Officials argue they have a right to enrich under the Nonproliferation Treaty and insist the issue is nonnegotiable; Abbas Araghchi called the right to enrich “our undeniable right.” Analysts say the clash — one side demanding zero enrichment, the other insisting on a right to enrich — makes compromise exceptionally difficult.

“If Trump does insist on zero enrichment, there’s not going to be a deal,” Kelsey Davenport of the Arms Control Association warned.

Iran, Oman