US-Iran talks stall over Trump's demand for zero uranium enrichment

US-Iran talks stall over Trump's demand for zero uranium enrichment

Negotiations between the United States and Iran have collapsed following the fifth round of talks, as the administration of Donald Trump demanded that Tehran abandon all domestic uranium enrichment. This new U.S. Position, which emerged roughly ten days before the talks failed, took Iranian leadership by surprise and led to the premature departure of chief U.S. Negotiator Steve Witkoff.

The demand for zero enrichment is reportedly supported by Israel's prime minister and UN ambassador. This marks a shift for the Israeli establishment, which previously advocated for a Libyan model involving the complete dismantling of both Iran's nuclear and missile programs, including all related infrastructure.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has dismissed the U.S. Demand as utter nonsense. Tehran's standing proposal has been to abandon highly enriched uranium in exchange for the complete lifting of U.S. Sanctions. However, the Iranian regime is facing an existential crisis characterized by a fragmented chain of command and severe economic distress.

Regime instability and internal conflict

Deepening divisions within Iran's ruling establishment became evident in late April 2026. State-affiliated reports describe a political environment where officials, clerics, and lawmakers are openly clashing over war strategies and diplomatic concessions.

In parliament, some lawmakers have viewed negotiations as a strategic mistake. Lawmaker Mahmoud Nabavian argued that including the nuclear issue encouraged the U.S. To demand the removal of nuclear materials or a 20-year suspension of enrichment. Other members of parliament, including MP Sabeti, have dismissed talks entirely, asserting that Iran must demonstrate it will not surrender through the use of drones, missiles, and enriched uranium.

Contradictory positions have also surfaced within the diplomatic corps. During a visit to Islamabad on April 23–24, official Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran had conveyed considerations for ending the war, while adviser Mohammad Marandi claimed no negotiations with the Trump administration would take place in that city.

Military escalation and "Operation Epic Fury"

Diplomatic failures have coincided with a massive military campaign. U.S. And Israeli forces launched Operation Epic Fury, a campaign that President Trump described as massive and ongoing. The operation included targeted killings of senior officials and strikes on regime institutions. This followed a February 28 bombing campaign that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran responded by attacking U.S. Bases and Israel. While many missiles were intercepted, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened in mid-May that future waves of attacks could overwhelm Israeli air defenses. Iran has also targeted the Persian Gulf, including the hijacking of an Emirati tanker sailing under a Panama flag on May 20.

Economic pressure and the "Snapback" threat

The Iranian regime is currently enduring its worst economic crisis since its inception. In early February, Trump reintroduced maximum pressure sanctions. By early May, he threatened to exclude any importers of Iranian oil from the U.S. Market. During Trump's first term, such measures cost Tehran at least $200 billion and led China to reduce Iranian oil imports to zero in November 2018.

Tehran is further pressured by the E3 (France, Germany, and the UK), which have threatened to activate the JCPOA's snapback mechanism. This would automatically reinstate comprehensive UN sanctions if no deal is reached by August. Such a move could trigger a new popular uprising among the Iranian people, who have already seen tens of thousands killed by the regime during protests in January.

Strategic stakes and regional impact

The conflict centers on several critical "red lines" for Tehran:

• Nuclear Infrastructure: Tehran views the ability to reactivate its nuclear escalation strategy as a means to obtain geopolitical concessions.
• Missile Programs: Iran has expanded its drone and missile capabilities since 2015, with ranges extending to Europe.
• Axis of Resistance: Despite the 2024 collapse of the Assad regime in Syria and the weakening of Hamas and Hezbollah, Tehran refuses to limit its support for remaining proxies, including the Houthis in Yemen.

The outcome now depends on whether Trump continues to leverage maximum economic and military pressure to force a deal more robust than the 2015 JCPOA, or if the regime continues to delay talks in hopes of a softened U.S. Position.