Congressional Republicans intensify pressure on President Donald Trump as negotiations with Iran enter a critical phase over the regime's nuclear program.
According to Fox News, more than 200 Republican lawmakers signed a letter urging Trump to maintain his hardline stance against Iran by demanding complete dismantlement of the country's uranium enrichment capabilities.
The letter, spearheaded by Sen. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska and House Republican Study Committee Chair Rep. August Pfluger of Texas, garnered widespread support within the party. Every Republican senator except Rand Paul of Kentucky, along with 177 House Republicans, endorsed the initiative demanding Iran relinquish all nuclear enrichment capabilities, including those claimed for peaceful energy purposes.
The GOP lawmakers' position directly contradicts Iran's repeated assertions about its nuclear rights. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that demands to dismantle Tehran's nuclear facilities were "unacceptable," emphasizing that Iran would not surrender its peaceful nuclear program under any circumstances.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi indicated some flexibility in negotiations, suggesting Iran might accept temporary restrictions on enrichment levels and volume. However, Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi maintained that uranium enrichment remains "non-negotiable" in any agreement.
Iranian officials completed another round of talks with U.S. representatives in Oman, with both sides reporting positive progress despite fundamental disagreements over enrichment rights.
Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff's recent statements suggest evolving U.S. policy positions. In a notable shift from previous comments, Witkoff declared: "An enrichment program can never exist in the state of Iran ever again."
This marks a departure from his earlier stance when he suggested Iran could maintain low-level enrichment capabilities.
Just last month, Witkoff indicated on Fox News that Iran might be permitted to enrich uranium up to 3.67 percent while opposing higher enrichment levels of 20 to 60 percent.
Republican lawmakers praised Trump's previous withdrawal from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and his administration's "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran. The letter emphasizes their view that any new agreement must prevent Iran from retaining enrichment capabilities.
The lawmakers wrote:
The scope and breadth of Iran's nuclear buildout have made it impossible to verify any new deal that allows Iran to continue enriching uranium. The regime must give up any capacity for enrichment.
Trump's recent comments have left some ambiguity about the administration's final position. When questioned about allowing Iran to maintain a civil enrichment program with restrictions against weapons-grade material production, he stated they hadn't reached a decision yet.
Congressional Republicans are rallying behind President Trump as his administration navigates complex negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. The letter, signed by over 200 GOP lawmakers, demands the complete elimination of Iran's uranium enrichment capabilities, setting up a potential showdown with Iranian officials who maintain enrichment rights are non-negotiable. As talks continue in Oman, the administration faces pressure to balance diplomatic progress with congressional demands for a harder line against Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
