20‑Year Vs 5‑Year Freeze: How Nuclear Disagreement Collapsed Truce Negotiations

Washington: The US last weekend proposed Iran accept a 20-year pause on its uranium enrichment, becoming a major sticking point in the talks. According to Axios report, US representatives suggested this long-term sanctions on Iran would come along with several other sanctions. This proposal was seen as putting strong pressure on Iran's nuclear program.

How did Iran react to the US proposal?

However, Iran rejected this proposal and proposed a much shorter, five-year pause of its own. According to Al Jazeera report, this deadline was much shorter than the US proposal, indicating that the gap between the two sides was huge.

Why did differences on nuclear program become the main problem?

The main differences between the US and Iran were over uranium enrichment. The US had demanded that Iran completely stop enrichment and deplete its existing uranium stockpile. At the same time, Iran had proposed a monitored down-blending process, which would have meant that Iran would blend its uranium instead of enriching it.

What is the 12.5 year pause proposal?

Political scientist Ian Bremmer informed on Tuesday that the US and Iran are now moving towards a 12.5-year pause on uranium enrichment. However, Bremer did not mention any source in this regard, nor did he provide further information. This new proposal has emerged as a possible step towards an agreement between the US and Iran.

What was the contribution of Pakistan and Turkey in the mediation?

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that efforts are on to bridge the remaining gap in the talks. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelati are also involved in this effort. Fidan said the initial conditions are often maximum, but both sides are working toward an agreement while maintaining the ceasefire.

Did America increase tension during talks?

US Vice President J.D. Tension increased in the talks after Vance blamed Iran in a press conference. According to sources, Iranian negotiators were shocked by this statement and thought a preliminary agreement was going to be reached, but Vance's statement signaled the conclusion of the talks.

How did America increase pressure on Iran?

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington had reached out to "the right people in Iran" and Iran wanted to reach a deal. However, the US government announced a blockade to increase pressure on Iran, aimed at blocking shipping linked to Iran.