Iran proposes regional nuclear-enrichment venture with US amid talks

Iranian officials have reportedly proposed the creation of a regional nuclear-enrichment consortium involving Arab countries and American investments, offering a potential alternative to the United States’ longstanding demand that Iran dismantle its nuclear program.

The proposal, according to four Iranian officials familiar with the matter, was presented during recent direct and indirect talks between Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in Oman. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the negotiations, said the plan was designed to revive talks and provide a face-saving solution for both sides.

The joint nuclear venture would allow Iran to enrich uranium to a low purity level, around 3.67 percent, suitable for civilian energy use, but far below the threshold needed for weapons-grade material. Under the plan, the enriched uranium would be sent to Arab countries for use in civilian nuclear reactors. Officials described the initiative as a permanent solution, in contrast to the time-limited 2015 nuclear agreement that Iran struck with world powers before the U.S. withdrawal under President Donald Trump.

Key regional players such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates could potentially be part of the venture. However, the feasibility of a multilateral enrichment program remains uncertain, particularly given the deep-rooted mistrust between Iran and its Gulf neighbors, and long-standing U.S. sanctions that deter American companies from engaging with Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

Public reaction in Iran was mixed. Several Iranian news outlets, including Farhikhtegan which is a newspaper affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps prominently featured the proposed plan, questioning whether it represents a diplomatic breakthrough or a national betrayal.

The U.S. has denied the claim. Eddie Vasquez, spokesperson for Mr. Witkoff, dismissed reports that any such proposal was discussed in Oman. “The claim by unnamed sources that a joint nuclear-enrichment venture idea was part of the last round of Iran talks in Oman is completely untrue,” he said.

Meanwhile, during a visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, President Trump reiterated his desire to strike a deal with Iran. “If I can make a deal with Iran, I’ll be very happy,” he said. “Right now, we don’t have a lot of time to wait.”

Whether this proposal gains traction remains unclear, but it signals renewed Iranian efforts to break the diplomatic impasse and seek a regional solution to one of the Middle East’s most contentious security issues.