US-Iran Nuclear Talks Deadlocked, Seeking Interim Memorandum to Avert Conflict
US and Iranian negotiators are scaling back ambitions for a comprehensive peace deal, instead seeking an interim memorandum to prevent renewed conflict. Last weekend's talks made no progress, with deep divisions remaining over Iran's enriched uranium stockpile and the duration of nuclear activity suspension. Iran hopes for a memorandum that includes unfreezing funds in exchange for allowing more shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Nuclear issues remain a core obstacle, and a final agreement would require expert and IAEA involvement.
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- 📰 Published: April 17, 2026 at 16:27
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DUBAI, April 16 (Reuters) - US and Iranian negotiators have scaled back their ambitions for a comprehensive peace deal, instead seeking an interim memorandum to prevent the two sides from falling back into conflict, two Iranian sources told Reuters.
Talks held last weekend in Islamabad between the US and Iran yielded no results. Despite optimism from US officials and Pakistani mediators, deep divisions remain over Iran's nuclear program, including the fate of its enriched uranium stockpile and how long Tehran should suspend nuclear activities, continuously threatening negotiation progress.
A senior Iranian official stated that the two sides have begun to narrow some differences, including how to manage the Strait of Hormuz. This waterway is crucial for about 20% of global oil and gas demand but has been closed to most vessels for weeks.
The official, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, noted that Iran, which has suffered severe US sanctions for years, hopes to reach a memorandum that includes Washington unfreezing some Iranian funds in exchange for allowing more ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
A source briefed by Tehran said yesterday that, according to Iran's proposal in talks with the US, if a lasting agreement can be reached, Iran would allow vessels to freely pass through the Omani side of the Strait of Hormuz without fear of attack.
However, with more than half of the two-week ceasefire passed, deep divisions remain. The senior official said these disagreements include reaching a consensus on the fate of Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile, which the US wants Iran to remove, and the duration of Iran's suspension of nuclear activities, particularly uranium enrichment operations.
Iran has long demanded that Washington recognize its right to enrich uranium. Tehran states that enrichment is for peaceful purposes only, but Western powers and Israel believe Iran's aim is to build nuclear weapons.
A Western diplomat said nuclear issues "remain a core obstacle."
Iranian sources said that if the two sides reach a memorandum to suspend conflict, they are expected to have 60 days to negotiate a final agreement, which would require the involvement of experts and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Previously, an international agreement to reduce Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for lifting sanctions was signed in 2015, but negotiations then lasted nearly two years. Later, US President Trump abrogated the agreement in 2018.
Iranian sources revealed that the US demanded Iran stop nuclear enrichment for 20 years, while Iran hopes to limit it to 3 to 5 years. They also stated that Tehran wants a timetable for lifting UN, US, and EU sanctions.
Iran has also previously rejected US demands to ship its entire stockpile of 60% enriched uranium abroad, a concentration far higher than needed for civilian use. However, Iranian sources said there are signs that the two sides might reach a compromise. One source noted that while Iran is not yet ready to ship all highly enriched uranium abroad, a portion of it could be sent to a third country.
He stated that some highly enriched uranium is needed for medical purposes and can also be used in a research reactor in Tehran, which requires a relatively small amount of uranium enriched to about 20%. (Compiled by Chang Hsiao-wen) 1150417
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Talks held last weekend in Islamabad between the US and Iran yielded no results. Despite optimism from US officials and Pakistani mediators, deep divisions remain over Iran's nuclear program, including the fate of its enriched uranium stockpile and how long Tehran should suspend nuclear activities, continuously threatening negotiation progress.
A senior Iranian official stated that the two sides have begun to narrow some differences, including how to manage the Strait of Hormuz. This waterway is crucial for about 20% of global oil and gas demand but has been closed to most vessels for weeks.
The official, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, noted that Iran, which has suffered severe US sanctions for years, hopes to reach a memorandum that includes Washington unfreezing some Iranian funds in exchange for allowing more ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
A source briefed by Tehran said yesterday that, according to Iran's proposal in talks with the US, if a lasting agreement can be reached, Iran would allow vessels to freely pass through the Omani side of the Strait of Hormuz without fear of attack.
However, with more than half of the two-week ceasefire passed, deep divisions remain. The senior official said these disagreements include reaching a consensus on the fate of Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile, which the US wants Iran to remove, and the duration of Iran's suspension of nuclear activities, particularly uranium enrichment operations.
Iran has long demanded that Washington recognize its right to enrich uranium. Tehran states that enrichment is for peaceful purposes only, but Western powers and Israel believe Iran's aim is to build nuclear weapons.
A Western diplomat said nuclear issues "remain a core obstacle."
Iranian sources said that if the two sides reach a memorandum to suspend conflict, they are expected to have 60 days to negotiate a final agreement, which would require the involvement of experts and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Previously, an international agreement to reduce Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for lifting sanctions was signed in 2015, but negotiations then lasted nearly two years. Later, US President Trump abrogated the agreement in 2018.
Iranian sources revealed that the US demanded Iran stop nuclear enrichment for 20 years, while Iran hopes to limit it to 3 to 5 years. They also stated that Tehran wants a timetable for lifting UN, US, and EU sanctions.
Iran has also previously rejected US demands to ship its entire stockpile of 60% enriched uranium abroad, a concentration far higher than needed for civilian use. However, Iranian sources said there are signs that the two sides might reach a compromise. One source noted that while Iran is not yet ready to ship all highly enriched uranium abroad, a portion of it could be sent to a third country.
He stated that some highly enriched uranium is needed for medical purposes and can also be used in a research reactor in Tehran, which requires a relatively small amount of uranium enriched to about 20%. (Compiled by Chang Hsiao-wen) 1150417
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
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The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.