Witkoff, Kushner consult with Oak Ridge nuclear experts on Iran - report

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with technical experts at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee to discuss preparations for a potential Iranian nuclear deal. The meeting, reported by Axios and citing US officials, focused on the technical aspects required for verifying Iran's compliance with any future agreement.

According to officials, the Oak Ridge team could be involved in direct negotiations with Iran. Approximately 100 experts have been selected for potential participation in talks, which would cover verification of compliance, further limitations on nuclear enrichment, and the disposal of existing nuclear materials. US officials noted that some of these experts recently assisted in the removal of enriched Venezuelan uranium.

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the Tennessee meeting "doesn't mean" a deal is imminent, but rather it is "a sign that the negotiations are in a very serious phase and that there is a good chance to get it done and we want to be prepared."

While the meeting does not signal an imminent deal, US officials described it as an indicator that negotiations are in a serious phase. "We want to be prepared," one official told Axios, highlighting the expertise of the Oak Ridge personnel in handling the complex technical requirements of a nuclear accord. Both the White House and the National Nuclear Security Administration declined to comment on the report.

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These are the top nuclear experts in the US who know how to do the technical things that a deal with Iran will entail.