Iran Insisting on “Dilution” of Uranium Within Its Territory in Potential Agreement with U.S.

Iran will assert that the highly enriched uranium it possesses should be “diluted” within its territory and not be delivered to the U.S. as Washington is demanding as part of a comprehensive peace agreement.

According to Iranian foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi, the peace agreement process is divided into two stages- realization of an initial memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iran and the US, and a second phase that is expected to feature negotiations leading to a potential final agreement.

Iran’s frozen assets would be released upon signing of the MoU, adding that the signing process might take place in a digital format in “a day or two”. The second phase is expected to last around 60 days, Araqchi noted during a televised address Friday.

The foreign minister stated that sensitive topics, including the nuclear issue featuring uranium enrichment and highly-enriched uranium, will be taken up in the second stage.

He also noted that Iran’s position on the highly-enriched materials is that it should exclusively be diluted inside the Islamic Republic as the only viable option.

In the second phase, negotiations would also focus on removal of the US's illegal sanctions, the official added.

Under the proposed framework, hostilities would end across all fronts, including Lebanon, and neither side would initiate war or use force, Araqchi went on.

He warned that Israel is doing all it can to jeopardize the peace process. Even as President Trump was talking last week about a potential peace deal with Iran, Israeli warplanes bombed Iranian targets which led to Tehran unleashing a missile barrage against Israel.

 Lebanon

Araqchi noted that Lebanon has never been excluded from Iran’s strategic considerations, adding, "We never forgot Lebanon in this war."

The minister cited Iran's proactive manner of responding to the Israeli regime's violations of its ceasefire with Lebanon as "another strategic achievement".

The Iranian response, he stressed, showed that "it (Iran) is not joking, and that, if necessary, it is not only unafraid of war, but will also employ it wherever it is needed".

According to Araqchi, a definitive conclusion of the war must feature the Israeli regime's withdrawal from the areas it has occupied in Lebanon.

The foreign minister said the first clause of the proposed agreement concerns the lifting of the illegal naval blockade imposed by the United States against the Islamic Republic.

He added the potential accord would additionally include an economic reconstruction plan to address war-related damages.

War damages

Araqchi stated that the plan would be discussed in detail after finalization, adding that it includes provisions related to compensation for damages, and would be designed to channel significant financial resources into Iran’s economy.

The minister said the second phase of negotiations is expected to last 60 days, but might be extended if both sides are satisfied with progress.

However, if sufficient progress was not achieved, the process would not lead to a final agreement, the official noted.

In that case, he stated, the situation would return to its previous state before the memorandum.

The official reminded the successive previous instances of the adversaries' non-commitment to negotiated agreements.

"We are not dealing with parties that are fully committed to their obligations. They take advantage of every opportunity to break their promises," he said.

"It is we who must close off the avenues for reneging on commitments, and we must have the capability, by relying on our own strength, not to allow such breaches of commitments to occur," he added.