Iran Signals Willingness to Pause Uranium Enrichment if U.S. Releases Frozen Funds

Iran may temporarily halt uranium enrichment if the U.S. releases $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds and acknowledges Tehran’s right to enrich uranium for civilian use, two Iranian sources close to the talks told Reuters. The proposed political agreement aims to ease tensions and build momentum toward a broader nuclear deal, though no formal discussions on the offer have taken place yet.

Under the potential deal, Iran could pause enrichment for one year and either ship part of its highly enriched uranium abroad or convert it into fuel plates for civilian nuclear use. However, Iran insists it will not dismantle its nuclear infrastructure or seal its facilities, as previously demanded by the Trump administration.

The U.S. State Department has not commented, and a U.S. official confirmed the proposal has not been officially presented. Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied any plan to negotiate over enrichment, calling it a non-negotiable right.

Tehran demands Washington recognize its sovereign right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and lift sanctions—especially those affecting its oil economy. Access to the $6 billion in funds, previously unfrozen during a 2023 prisoner swap but still stuck in a Qatari bank, remains a priority for Iran.

Despite Iranian optimism, Western diplomats remain skeptical, especially without verification by the U.N. nuclear watchdog. They also doubt the U.S. will agree to Iran’s demand for immediate sanctions relief, favoring instead a phased approach.

The backdrop includes domestic unrest in Iran, economic instability, and rising tensions with Israel. Trump’s renewed “maximum pressure” campaign, since his return to office in January, has further escalated stakes by reimposing sanctions and threatening military action if talks fail.