Iran is prepared to make new concessions on its nuclear program if the United States lifts sanctions and recognizes Tehran’s right to enrich uranium, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Sunday, Feb. 22.
The comments come after two rounds of negotiations earlier this month that exposed deep divisions between Tehran and Washington, including over the scope and timing of sanctions relief.
Proposed concessions
According to the official, Iran would consider sending roughly half of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium abroad, diluting the remainder, and participating in a regional enrichment consortium.
In exchange, Tehran is seeking US recognition of what it calls its right to “peaceful nuclear enrichment,” along with the lifting of economic sanctions.
Iran has also offered to allow US companies to participate as contractors in its oil and gas sector as part of a broader economic package, the official said.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Enrichment dispute
Washington views uranium enrichment inside Iran as a potential pathway to nuclear weapons. Tehran denies pursuing nuclear arms and maintains that enrichment is permitted under international agreements.
The International Atomic Energy Agency estimated last year that Iran holds more than 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent purity – close to weapons-grade levels.
The United States has previously demanded that Iran relinquish its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and halt enrichment activities altogether, a position Tehran has rejected.
Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, said Tehran would allow extensive International Atomic Energy Agency monitoring to demonstrate it is not seeking nuclear weapons.
Risk of escalation
Reuters reported on Friday, Feb. 20, that officials and diplomats across the Gulf and Europe see the negotiations edging closer to potential military confrontation as diplomatic momentum slows.
US President Donald Trump has said he is considering limited military strikes. His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has questioned publicly why Iran has not agreed to curb its nuclear activities.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Sunday he expects to meet Witkoff in Geneva on Thursday, adding that a diplomatic solution is still viable.
The Iranian official said an interim agreement remains possible, though significant gaps persist over sanctions relief and verification mechanisms.
Trump has repeatedly used confrontational rhetoric toward Iran’s leadership, warning that Tehran would face severe consequences if it resumed nuclear activities. He has framed US military pressure as a means of forcing Iran back into negotiations and preventing what he describes as a renewed push toward nuclear capability.
Iran has also faced sustained domestic unrest, with protests erupting in multiple cities over economic hardship, political repression, and restrictions on civil liberties. Demonstrations have periodically intensified following crackdowns by Iranian security forces, drawing international attention and criticism.
Trump has publicly expressed support for protesters in Iran, portraying the demonstrations as a sign of popular opposition to the country’s leadership. He has accused Iranian authorities of corruption and mismanagement and has said the US stands with Iranians “seeking freedom” – while Tehran has accused Washington of attempting to incite unrest and interfere in its internal affairs.
Tehran and Moscow have long been allies. Russian leader Vladimir Putin met with the head of Iran’s top security body in Moscow in January, as White House pressure on Iran continued to build.
The latest rounds of negotiations were held in Oman, which has frequently acted as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran in past diplomatic efforts. The talks have coincided with a visible US military buildup in the Middle East, including additional naval and air assets, as Washington increases pressure on Iran amid the stalled negotiations.