Since the 1960s, Iran’s nuclear development has come at a steep price: assassinated scientists, cyber sabotage, and crippling sanctions have all been part of the toll paid for acquiring a technology that today serves as a cornerstone of energy security, nuclear medicine, and national dignity. Accepting “absolute suspension” would be akin to erasing a nation’s historical memory and submitting to a coercive deterrence logic—one that turns a blind eye to Israel’s nuclear arsenal while branding Iran’s safeguarded centrifuges a threat. Thus, continuing enrichment at necessary levels, in line with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), remains Tehran’s key bargaining chip in any negotiation.
Washington’s Strategy: Containing Knowledge, Not Just Weapons
The claim by figures like Rubio and Witkaff that enrichment is a “red line” reflects less a concern for non-proliferation than an effort to suppress indigenous scientific capacity. Washington knows full well that there is a difference between having the technical ability and making the political decision to weaponize. Iran’s acceptance of the Additional Protocol and its hosting of more International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) cameras than any other country are testaments to its transparency. By contrast, the United States has not only violated its own commitments under the JCPOA, but has also weaponized secondary sanctions to undermine the principle of a “balanced deal.” Such a record justifies any country’s right to retain its own levers of deterrence at the negotiating table.
Iran’s negotiation approach is structured around a dual framework: assurances of the peaceful nature of its program in return for the full lifting of sanctions. If the “snapback mechanism” is triggered, withdrawal from the NPT and expansion of peaceful nuclear activities are options on the table—a scenario that even European powers view with concern. At the same time, Tehran emphasizes investment in multilateral diplomacy, from Oman’s mediation role to regional initiatives for peaceful nuclear cooperation. This configuration raises the stakes for any unilateral adventurism and helps maintain a balanced power equation.
NOURNEWS