Iran not under enough pressure to concede on nuclear program: expert

Despite reports suggesting a potential Iranian willingness to compromise on its nuclear program, expert Raz Zimmt asserts that Tehran is not yet under enough pressure to fundamentally alter its stance. Zimmt, head of the Iran and Shi’ite Axis Program at the Institute for National Security Studies, clarified that Iran continues to link any discussion of its nuclear activities to the cessation of the ongoing war, the lifting of blockades, and the withdrawal of US forces. This precondition remains the core obstacle, preventing any significant breakthrough.

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Tehran continues to condition any discussion of its nuclear program on ending the war, lifting the blockade, and the withdrawal of US forces, meaning the core obstacle remains unresolved and no breakthrough has been achieved.

Zimmt addressed reports of an Iranian proposal, noting that the published version may not accurately reflect what was submitted. The proposal appears to include some flexibility regarding uranium enrichment restrictions and a potential readiness not to accumulate fissile material after enrichment resumes. However, he emphasized that Iran's leadership maintains an absolute veto on discussing nuclear matters until the war concludes. This means any concessions on nuclear issues would only be considered at a much later stage, contingent on the war's end.

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This is a report about an Iranian proposal

The expert highlighted the unresolved core problem: Iran's insistence on preconditions. He drew a parallel to Hamas's concessions regarding hostages, noting that Iran has not demonstrated a similar readiness to discuss the nuclear issue in an initial phase, which is of particular interest to President Trump. Zimmt believes Iran likely does not want the war to resume, suggesting a complex strategic calculation. From an Iranian perspective, as interpreted by Zimmt, these preconditions are non-negotiable at this stage, reflecting a strategic patience and a desire to leverage the ongoing conflict to achieve broader geopolitical objectives before engaging substantively on the nuclear file. The international community, particularly the US, faces the challenge of navigating these demands while seeking to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

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The main problem remains that the Iranians, or Iran’s leadership at this stage, are placing an absolute veto on any discussion of the nuclear issue before the war ends