Iran and the United States remain locked in difficult negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme, with major disagreements persisting over sanctions relief and uranium enrichment as both sides prepare for another round of talks scheduled for early March. A senior Iranian official, speaking to Reuters, indicated that despite renewed diplomatic engagement, fundamental differences remain unresolved, particularly regarding how and when economic sanctions on Iran should be lifted.
The latest diplomatic efforts come against a backdrop of heightened regional tension. The United States has increased its military presence across the Middle East, while President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that failure of negotiations could lead to escalation. Iran, in response, has cautioned that any military action against it would trigger retaliation, further raising the stakes surrounding the talks.
According to the Iranian official, the most recent negotiations exposed a clear divide between Washington and Tehran on the structure and timing of sanctions relief. While both sides acknowledge the need for a workable framework, they have yet to agree on a mutually acceptable timeline or mechanism for easing restrictions imposed on Iran’s economy. Tehran maintains that sanctions must be lifted gradually but predictably, allowing Iran to verify that relief is genuine and sustainable before committing to long-term nuclear limits.
Sanctions relief has therefore emerged as the central obstacle in the discussions, which resumed earlier this month after years of stalled diplomacy over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Washington is pressing for strict curbs on Iran’s uranium enrichment programme and is demanding the dismantling or removal of Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, arguing that such material could rapidly be converted for weapons use. US negotiators have also sought tighter monitoring measures to ensure compliance with any future agreement.
Iran, however, has firmly rejected demands for “zero enrichment,” insisting that any deal must formally recognise its right to pursue nuclear enrichment for peaceful civilian purposes, including energy production and scientific research. Iranian officials argue that this right is protected under international nuclear agreements and cannot be surrendered as a condition for negotiations.
Despite its resistance, Tehran has signalled limited flexibility. The Iranian official said the country could consider exporting part of its highly enriched uranium stockpile, lowering enrichment purity levels, or participating in a regional enrichment consortium designed to increase transparency and reduce proliferation concerns. However, such concessions would depend on guarantees that sanctions relief would occur in clearly defined phases tied to verifiable commitments.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reinforced this position publicly, stating that Iran would not yield to pressure or threats. Speaking at a public ceremony, he emphasised that coercive tactics would not force concessions and that Iran would continue defending its national interests despite economic hardship caused by sanctions.
Indirect negotiations between the two countries resumed in Oman earlier this month and later continued in Geneva on February 17. While both sides described the discussions as constructive, officials acknowledged that substantial gaps remain, particularly regarding enrichment limits, inspection mechanisms, and the sequencing of sanctions removal alongside nuclear restrictions.
As talks move toward the next round, diplomats on both sides face the challenge of bridging these core disagreements, with the success or failure of negotiations likely to shape regional stability and global non-proliferation efforts in the months ahead.
