As part of the nuclear deal negotiations, the United States and Iran are discussing a long-term ban on uranium enrichment for the Islamic Republic, which could last for about 15 years. This was reported by The New York Times (NYT), citing American officials and diplomats familiar with the negotiations behind closed doors.
According to the newspaper, in recent weeks the parties have negotiated four main elements of a possible agreement, which Washington believes could halt Iran's nuclear program for about 15 years. One of the main points is the cessation of uranium enrichment. Initially, the United States insisted on a 20-year ban, while Iran proposed 10 years. American officials believe that the parties can agree on a 15-year term.
As the NYT notes, the negotiations also touch on the issues of reducing the stockpile of enriched uranium, dismantling Iran's main nuclear facilities, and allowing international inspectors to conduct surprise inspections. According to the publication's sources, the discussion so far only concerns the initial outlines of a possible agreement, and the further course of the negotiations remains uncertain, amid the new escalation of the situation in the Middle East.
