Iran Rejects Any Halt To Uranium Enrichment As US Pushes For 20-Year Moratorium

Last Updated:April 14, 2026, 10:56 IST

Iran's IRGC has firmly rejected any suggestion that Tehran will abandon uranium enrichment, calling such claims false and reaffirming its commitment to nuclear sovereignty.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has categorically rejected claims that Tehran could abandon uranium enrichment, underscoring that the country will not compromise on what it considers its sovereign nuclear rights.

In a post on X, IRGC spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari dismissed reports suggesting Iran might accept restrictions on enrichment activity, stating, “Iran will abandon uranium enrichment are false. We will never give up our rights, sovereignty, or strength – on war or nuclear power."

The statement comes at a sensitive moment in negotiations between the United States and Iran, where differences over Tehran’s nuclear programme emerged as the principal obstacle preventing an agreement during talks held in Islamabad over the weekend.

ENRICHMENT FREEZE AT HEART OF DIPLOMATIC IMPASSE

Sources cited in an Axios report said Washington proposed that Iran accept a 20-year moratorium on uranium enrichment as part of a broader framework aimed at resolving tensions before the current ceasefire deadline expires on April 21.

Iranian negotiators, however, pushed back on the duration, offering what was described as a “single digit" number of years instead.

The duration of restrictions on enrichment activity, along with the fate of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, became the central sticking point in the marathon discussions.

According to the report, the United States also demanded that Iran remove its highly enriched uranium from the country altogether, a condition Tehran did not accept.

Iranian representatives instead suggested a “monitored process of down-blending" enriched uranium, a technical step that reduces the purity level of the material but allows the country to retain its nuclear infrastructure.

The proposal reflects Tehran’s consistent position that its nuclear programme is tied to national sovereignty and technological independence.

IRGC MESSAGE SIGNALS HARDENING POSITION

The IRGC statement signals a firm red line on enrichment activity even as diplomatic efforts continue through mediators.

Zolfaghari’s remarks reinforce Tehran’s position that decisions regarding nuclear capability will not be dictated by external pressure or military developments.

The issue of enrichment has long been one of the most contentious aspects of negotiations, with Washington seeking long-term guarantees that Iran will not advance capabilities that could potentially be used to produce weapons-grade material.

Tehran, meanwhile, maintains that uranium enrichment is permitted under international frameworks for civilian nuclear energy.

Sources cited in the report said US negotiators proposed a moratorium lasting at least two decades, along with additional restrictions designed to ensure compliance.

Iranian officials viewed such conditions as excessive, leading to disagreement that ultimately prevented a deal from being finalised.

MEDIATORS ATTEMPT TO BRIDGE DIFFERENCES

Diplomatic channels remain active despite the impasse, with Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey working to bridge the remaining gaps between the two sides.

According to the report, mediators are exploring ways to reconcile differences over enrichment limits while preserving the current ceasefire arrangement.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan indicated that negotiations often begin with maximalist demands before moving toward compromise, suggesting there may still be room for adjustments.

He also indicated that extending the ceasefire by 45 to 60 days could allow more time for diplomacy.

A US official quoted in the report said there is still “continued engagement" and “forward motion" in attempts to reach an agreement.

Donald Trump also indicated that communication channels remain open, saying the United States had been contacted by “the right people in Iran" who want to make a deal.

For now, the IRGC’s statement underscores Tehran’s unwillingness to consider abandoning uranium enrichment entirely, highlighting the nuclear issue as the decisive factor shaping the trajectory of ongoing negotiations.

News world Iran Rejects Any Halt To Uranium Enrichment As US Pushes For 20-Year Moratorium

Read More