US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Whitkoff said in a closed-door meeting on Tuesday that the administration is demanding that any nuclear agreement with Iran remain in force indefinitely, Axios reported, citing a US official and two other people familiar with the comments.
“We start with the Iranians on the premise that there is no sunset provision. Whether we get a deal or not, our premise is that you have to behave appropriately for the rest of your life,” he said at an AIPAC donor meeting in Washington, the sources said.
Witkoff also said that talks between the US and Iran are currently focused on nuclear issues, but if a deal is reached, the Trump administration would like to hold further talks on Iran’s missile programme and proxy military support.
At that point, he said, the US would like other countries in the region to participate in the talks.
Trump’s special envoy said two key issues during the ongoing nuclear talks are Iran’s ability to enrich uranium and the fate of its existing stockpile of enriched uranium.
U.S. officials say Trump may be open to “symbolic” enrichment in Iran if the Iranians prove it would prevent them from developing nuclear weapons. Officials also say the Iranians are under heavy pressure from mediators – Oman, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey – to move toward an agreement with the U.S. that would avert war. But many officials in Washington and the region remain sceptical that the Iranians are willing to reach the high bar set by Trump.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Whitkoff and Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner are reportedly scheduled to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbasrm Araghchi in Geneva on 26 February. The two sides are expected to discuss the possible parameters of agreements aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
A preliminary round of talks between Iran and the United States on Tehran’s nuclear programme ended in Geneva, Switzerland, on 17 February without an agreement.
The talks took place amid Trump’s repeated threats of military action against Tehran, first over Iran’s brutal crackdown on protests and then over the country’s nuclear programme.
Western countries have long suspected Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, while Tehran insists its programme is for civilian purposes only.