Iran Denies Engaging in 'New Negotiations on Nuclear Agreement Provisions'

In response to a report by the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal, which claimed new discussions between Iran and global powers regarding the reduction of enriched uranium beyond the agreed amount in the JCPOA, the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that no new negotiations on the JCPOA provisions are underway. Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for Iran's diplomatic apparatus, stated on Friday to the Ana news agency that 'no new negotiations' have taken place between Iran and the other parties to the nuclear agreement for 'any changes to the JCPOA provisions,' and that the Wall Street Journal report is 'completely false.' The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, December 4, from Brussels, citing Western officials, that global powers involved in nuclear negotiations with Iran have requested that Iran impose further restrictions on its enriched uranium levels to dissuade Donald Trump from withdrawing from the nuclear agreement. However, less than a day after the publication of this report, Bahram Qasemi labeled its content as 'false' and 'purely fabricated and baseless.' The Iran nuclear agreement with global powers, known as the JCPOA, which was reached in summer 2015 and implemented in early winter of that year, aimed primarily to limit the amount of enriched uranium and plutonium accessible to Iran so that it could not quickly build a nuclear bomb. The Wall Street Journal also reported that according to Western officials, under a new plan, Iran would reduce its allowed stockpile of enriched uranium after Donald Trump's election to prolong the time it would take to potentially acquire a nuclear bomb. They noted that the Iranian side has seriously participated in these negotiations, but has not yet made any commitments regarding the implementation of the new plan. The limitation that Iran is currently committed to under the JCPOA, which it will adhere to for 15 years, includes a 300-kilogram limit for low-enriched uranium and a 130-ton limit for heavy water. Iran, which previously exported its surplus enriched uranium, including all high-enriched uranium stock, has also stored its surplus heavy water in a warehouse in Oman to sell and deliver from there. The Wall Street Journal's report cited individuals familiar with the negotiations between Iran, the U.S., and EU nuclear experts, stating that if an agreement is reached on the desired restrictions regarding Iran's nuclear stockpile, Iran could, within a few weeks to a few months, clear its facilities in such a way that its uranium enrichment levels would not be suitable for the potential construction of a nuclear bomb in the future. These Western sources also indicated that there are various ways to achieve such a goal without destroying Iran's nuclear facilities. They further stated that given the current political situation, which has raised doubts about the future of the Iran nuclear agreement, if Iran takes significant steps to reduce its uranium stockpile, it would result in a 'win-win outcome for both sides.' Officials close to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic have repeatedly accused the U.S. of failing to fulfill its commitments since the implementation of the JCPOA. Donald Trump, the elected President of the United States, described the nuclear agreement with Iran as 'the worst deal' possible during his election campaign and emphasized that if he came to power, he would renew negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.