Iran May Yield on the Strait of Hormuz, but Won't Give Ground on Its Nuclear Program

Iran has signaled that in negotiations with the United States it may concede on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key crude oil shipping route, but will show no flexibility on its nuclear program. A senior Iranian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters on the 25th (local time) that even if Washington accepts Tehran's proposal to reopen the strait, Iran will not budge on its nuclear program. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the previous day that Iran had offered, in return for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, to end hostilities on all fronts including Lebanon within seven days, have the blockade of Iranian ports lifted, and see frozen assets unfrozen and crude oil export sanctions waived.

On the nuclear program, Tehran's position is that it is ready to enter detailed negotiations only if the United States first accepts its conditions. However, Iran maintains it will make no concessions on its right to enrich uranium or on the shipment of highly enriched uranium (HEU) abroad, though it has indicated it could agree to dilute its highest-enriched uranium stockpile.

Western countries, including Israel and the United States, have accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, citing among other things its enrichment of uranium to 60%. Iran has flatly denied allegations that it seeks nuclear weapons. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimated that Iran held 440.9 kilograms of 60%-enriched uranium at the time of Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last June.

With the two sides still far apart, nuclear negotiations are reportedly expected to focus on the question of diluting Iran's highest-enriched uranium stockpile.