Iran-US Deal: Key Sticking Points Emerge in Nuclear and Financial Negotiations

The United States and Iran appear to be on the verge of a significant diplomatic breakthrough, with President Donald Trump announcing that an agreement could be imminent. This potential "memorandum of understanding" (MoU) aims to conclude a conflict that has lasted over three months, resulting in thousands of lives lost and driving up global energy prices.

Central to the negotiations is Iran's nuclear program. The US is particularly concerned about Iran's stockpile of approximately 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to around 60%. This material could theoretically be sufficient for several nuclear weapons if further enriched. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency has emphasized the country's right to enrich uranium and retain enriched material as part of any final agreement.

Disagreements persist over the handling of enriched uranium. While the US has reportedly proposed a 20-year moratorium on enrichment, Iran has rejected this, favoring a much shorter pause of about five years. Iran views its enriched uranium as a bargaining chip and has offered to downblend the material itself, but only in exchange for the lifting of US sanctions. The possibility of a third country, such as Russia or China, mediating or holding the uranium is also under discussion.

The economic aspect is another crucial element. Iran seeks the release of $6 billion to $12 billion from its frozen assets, estimated to be as much as $100 billion, which are blocked in countries like South Korea, China, and Japan due to US sanctions. The US, however, wants to release funds gradually and strictly for humanitarian purposes. There are also reports of discussions within the US government about using parts of these frozen assets to compensate US allies in the Gulf region for damages incurred during the recent escalation.