Axios: Iran Could Host Nuclear Consortium on Its Soil
According to webangah News Agency, a senior Iranian official told Axios that Iran is prepared to advance a nuclear agreement with the U.S. based on the idea of a regional uranium enrichment consortium-provided the consortium operates within Iranian territory.
the regional enrichment consortium proposal is a key element of the plan presented by White House envoy Steve Witkoff to Iran on Saturday. The initiative seeks to reconcile two opposing stances: former President Trump’s insistence on banning uranium enrichment by Iran and Tehran’s demand to continue domestic enrichment.
The Iranian official told Axios that while hosting the consortium inside Iran coudl be negotiable,locating it beyond national borders would be “doomed to fail.” This response suggests Tehran may not outright reject Witkoff’s proposal but will push for revisions. Axios first reported details of the offer on Monday.
Key aspects of the U.S.proposal include:
- No specified location for the consortium’s headquarters
- Potential participation by the U.S., Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Turkey
- A mandate to supply nuclear fuel for peaceful energy programs under IAEA supervision
The plan could allow Washington to claim Iran lacks autonomous enrichment rights (as oversight would expand beyond Tehran), while letting Iran assert its red lines remain intact.
U.S. conditions for an agreement involve:
- Capping Iran’s domestic enrichment capacity at civilian program requirements
- Temporarily reducing enrichment levels to 3% post-signing (duration negotiable)
- Deactivating underground enrichment facilities during agreed period
- Limiting above-ground facility output temporarily reactor fuel needs only
A mutually acceptable deal-let alone operationalizing such a consortium-would face meaningful challenges.
