Tehran would be willing to dilute its stockpile of enriched uranium to 60%, the highest purity ratio documented by the Atomic Energy Agency, if the United States agrees to a complete lifting of sanctions. This was reflected this Monday, February 9, by the official ISNA agency, citing the Iranian vice president and main atomic authority, Mohammad Eslami. The contacts of the Ali Khamenei regime with the Omani mediators will continue on Tuesday, February 10.

First modification: 02/09/2026 - 20:01 Last modification: 02/09/2026 - 20:06

Iran could degrade its stockpile of 60% enriched uranium, which the Atomic Energy Nuclear Organization estimates at 440 kilograms, if the United States eliminates all types of sanctions on Tehran.

The previous week's talks with Washington, which were mediated by Oman, now have a new opportunity to unravel, after the official IRNA agency reported on the conditions proposed by Vice President Mohammad Eslami, who is also the director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.

"The possibility of diluting 60% enriched uranium depends on whether or not all sanctions are lifted in return," Eslami stated.

The highest atomic authority in Tehran ruled out the other proposal that was on the table, sending the reserve to third countries, arguing that this alternative had not been discussed during the meetings in the sultanate.

To display this YouTube content, you must allow advertising and audience measurement cookies.

An extension on your browser appears to be blocking the video player from loading. In order to view this content, you must disable it on this site.

Read alsoUS military pressure "does not scare" Iran, says Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi

An alternative to reduce tensions

The United States has repeatedly insisted that Iran must give up uranium enrichment and get rid of the stockpile that is already enriched to 60%, the closest proportion of fissile purity that Tehran has to the 90% necessary for weapons use.

The 60% enrichment is well above the 3.67% limit set in the 2015 nuclear agreement signed between Washington and Tehran, which was voided in 2018 when the United States announced its unilateral withdrawal from the treaty, during the first presidency of Donald Trump.

Diluting the enriched uranium, which Iran has always argued that it stores for peaceful purposes, could reduce the degree of purity and thereby reduce tensions over its possible use in the manufacture of atomic weapons.

Last year, both countries embarked on five rounds of negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, which ended without an agreement due to a lack of common ground on uranium enrichment.

In June 2025, Trump decided to add US military forces to the so-called 12-Day War that Israel waged against Iran, attacking the Fordow enrichment plant, the Natanz nuclear facility and the Isfahan Nuclear Research and Technology Center, during the operation called Midnight Hammer.

Also read EE. US announces new oil sanctions on Iran; Tehran ruled out stopping uranium enrichment

Conversations amid mistrust

Negotiations mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr al Busaidi paused the threat of a confrontation after the United States deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and its battle group near Iranian waters in the Persian Gulf.

However, they ended without an agreement on February 6, although with the commitment of a next meeting on a date that remains undefined and with the White House containing for the moment a promised attack, after the bloody repression of the ayatollah regime against recent protests.

"We seek serious negotiations to reach a result. Unfortunately, deep distrust persists due to the behavior of the United States"

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi regretted in statements offered on February 9 that these talks took place in a framework of “distrust” towards Washington.

"We are seeking serious negotiations to achieve a result. Unfortunately, deep mistrust persists due to the behavior of the United States in recent years," Araqchi said during his participation in the diplomatic meeting.

However, for President Masud Pezeshkian, “the new round of nuclear talks, initiated with the support of neighbors and welcomed by Oman, is a good opportunity for a fair and balanced solution to this case,” as he noted during a public event in Tehran.

Pezashkian reiterated "the importance (for Iran) of guaranteeing its rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), including the right to enrichment and the withdrawal of oppressive sanctions."

Despite the criticism against the interlocutor, the Persian nation seems committed to continuing the dialogue. The unofficial Tasnim agency reported that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's advisor, Ali Larijani, will travel to Oman on February 10 to discuss "the latest regional and international developments and bilateral cooperation at various levels."

Read alsoNuclear program, ballistic missiles and 'Axis of Resistance': US and Iran meet far from common ground

With Reuters, AFP and EFE

Related keywords

The content you requested does not exist or is no longer available.