US Demands Iran Uncover Nuclear Facilities, Hand Over Uranium Stockpiles

JAKARTA - The United States is demanding that Iran dismantle its main nuclear development facility and hand over all stockpiles of enriched uranium it has to Washington in a deal that will not expire, according to US media reports.

This was conveyed in the third stage of nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran in Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday, according to a Wall Street Journal report, citing officials.

On that occasion, the US was said to have pressured Iran to close its three main nuclear development facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, as well as to hand over all the enriched uranium stocks they had, estimated at 10,000 kg, to the US.

Washington also demanded that the agreement reached be permanent without a time limit.

Regarding nuclear enrichment, the US has a zero-tolerance policy, although the US may allow Iran to operate a reactor in Tehran, but only for low-level enrichment processes and very limited for medical purposes.

Previously, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that Iran is currently not enriching uranium.

But Washington offered only minimal sanctions relief at first, with promises of further relief if Iran showed continued compliance in the future, US officials said.

Axios reported that negotiations in Geneva took place in two formats, namely indirectly and between US and Iranian negotiators, although both parties did not openly admit direct negotiations.

The US has also hinted at flexibility on Iran's demand to retain the right to enrich uranium, but if Tehran can guarantee that it does not lead to the creation of nuclear weapons.

Although Washington ultimately wants Iran to reduce its development of ballistic missiles and support for regional proxies, these issues are not the focus of discussion because this time the negotiations are focused on the nuclear issue.

The negotiations in Geneva were the longest of the three sessions of negotiations held under the mediation of Oman, lasting more than 3.5 hours and are expected to continue.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeli Baghaei said the talks took place in an "intensive and serious" atmosphere and both sides had submitted "significant and practical proposals" regarding the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions.

Baghaei also highlighted "contradictory statements" from certain US officials in the negotiation process.

The US has not made any statements regarding negotiations with Iran.