As the Iranian regime’s nuclear program has come under heightened global scrutiny following the 12-day war with Israel, international sources report mounting overt and covert pressure on Tehran to halt uranium enrichment. Simultaneously, Tehran’s contradictory stances have added complexity and tension to the issue.
The news website Axios reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently, in communications with Iranian regime officials as well as with Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron, supported a plan under which Iran would have no right to enrich uranium. According to the outlet, Moscow has asked Tehran in secret negotiations to agree to this proposal.
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Three European officials and one Israeli official confirmed that Putin has directly proposed to Iranian regime officials that they abandon full-scale uranium enrichment. Other sources told Axios that Russia is prepared, if a deal is reached, to remove Iran’s enriched uranium from the country and return only low-enriched uranium for medical and nuclear power purposes. However, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry denied the Axios report.
Araghchi: There will be no agreement without enrichment
In response to reports of a possible “zero enrichment” deal, Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s regime foreign minister, firmly stated:
“We will not accept any agreement that excludes enrichment.”
He also warned that the use of the “snapback mechanism” by the three European countries to reinstate sanctions would mark the end of Europe’s role in the nuclear file. Araghchi stressed that inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would continue conditionally, and Tehran would assess its security and technical concerns before resuming full cooperation.
Trump: If Iran resumes pursuit of a bomb, strikes will resume
The Wall Street Journal revealed that Donald Trump, in a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that he would not oppose another military strike if Tehran resumed its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
According to the report, Israel has clearly informed the United States that it is prepared for renewed military action if Tehran revives its weaponization activities. A senior Israeli official also stated that portions of Iran’s uranium stockpile in Isfahan remained intact after recent attacks and could potentially be recovered.
The 12-day war: official casualty figures and silence on military personnel
Meanwhile, Asghar Jahangir, spokesperson for Iran’s regime judiciary, announced that the 12-day war between Iran and Israel resulted in 943 deaths, with eight more individuals still missing. He also confirmed that in the attack on Evin Prison, five inmates with financial crimes were killed and several others escaped.
These figures come as other officials, including the head of the Martyrs Foundation, have estimated the death toll at up to 1,060 and warned it could rise to 1,100. Despite this, none of the regime’s institutions have provided a breakdown between military and civilian casualties, raising many questions among the public.
Recent developments indicate that the Iranian regime’s nuclear program has entered a new phase—one in which not only the United States and European countries, but even Russia, are cautiously distancing themselves from Tehran. The “zero enrichment” plan, now jointly pursued by Moscow and Washington, effectively seeks the complete nuclear disarmament of the Iranian regime. However, Tehran’s public opposition and threats to withdraw from cooperation have further darkened the outlook for negotiations.
