The Big Story 

Hawkish national security experts are slamming President Trump’s opening bid for nuclear talks with Iran as little more than a rehash of the Obama-era nuclear deal.

© AP

The criticism has Trump’s point person for talks with Iran, Steve Witkoff, to backtrack on his previous position. Witkoff said Monday night that the Islamic Republic could maintain a program enriching uranium up to 3.67 percent, the limit included in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration. 

But by Tuesday morning, Witkoff reversed, saying the president’s position was to eliminate Iran’s ability to enrich uranium — the fuel needed for a nuclear weapon. 

“Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East — meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program,” Witkoff wrote on social platform X. 

“It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do.”

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) welcomed Witkoff’s reversal. “Well said and right on!” he replied to the post. 

The reversal came on the heels of outrage among Iran hawks — including Trump supporters. 

“Given Iran’s secret nuclear weapons research, Iran cannot be trusted to do ANY uranium enrichment,” said Fred Fleitz, vice chair of the America First Policy Institute, the think tank staffed by officials who served in Trump’s first administration. Fleitz was chief of staff of Trump’s first National Security Council. 

Fleitz described the Obama-era deal, which Trump withdrew the U.S. from during his first term, as “disastrous” and said Iran’s nuclear program is far more advanced today than it was at the start of negotiations during the Obama administration in 2013. He said Iran could convert “reactor-grade uranium to weapon grade much faster” today.

U.S. intelligence agencies assess that while Iran has not made the decision to weaponize its uranium stockpile, the Islamic Republic is enriching uranium up to 60 percent. Experts say that reaching weapons-grade uranium of 90 percent for one bomb could happen within a matter of days, and Tehran could make enough fuel for multiple bombs within a matter of months. 

Opponents of the JCPOA said that even the 3.67 percent enrichment was unacceptable. While they were glad to see Witkoff’s shift, their statements have indicated a fear over what Trump might agree to as part of a deal.

Read the full report at TheHill.com.

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