Iran has proposed the establishment of a joint nuclear enrichment venture involving Arab nations and US investment, as part of ongoing efforts to resolve the impasse over Tehran’s nuclear programme, Iranian officials said on Sunday.
The plan was reportedly presented by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during a meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff in Oman, aimed at providing an alternative to President Donald Trump’s longstanding demand for a complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
However, a spokesperson for Witkoff denied any such discussion, stating, “No such meeting took place, and no plan for a joint nuclear venture was discussed.” The US and Iran have not had formal diplomatic relations since 1980.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a recent address, reiterated that demands for a full shutdown of the country’s nuclear programme remain “unacceptable.”
Also read: 'Iran’s nuclear rights ‘non-negotiable,’ warns FM Abbas Araghchi
“From our perspective, (uranium) enrichment is something that absolutely must continue, and there’s no room for compromise about that,” Araghchi had said earlier this month.
The US, which withdrew from the 2015 UN-backed nuclear deal under Trump’s first term, has accused Iran of secretly violating the agreement – a claim Tehran has repeatedly denied, insisting that its nuclear activities are purely peaceful.
Despite the tensions, both sides described the recent four rounds of talks in Oman as “positive” and “constructive.” However, disagreements persist over broader issues, including the ongoing conflict in Gaza, attacks on international shipping, and the activities of Yemen’s Houthi rebels, which both Washington and Tehran see as major security concerns.
During his current Middle East tour, Trump reiterated his hard-line stance on Iran, describing the Islamic Republic as the “most destructive force” in the region, and insisted that it must never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
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