US President Donald Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held a closed meeting with leading US nuclear experts to discuss possible negotiations with Iran on a new nuclear agreement. Axios reported this on June 5, citing sources.
According to the publication, the consultations took place at the national laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The White House is preparing to conclude a memorandum of understanding with Iran that would extend the ceasefire, open the Strait of Hormuz to oil transportation and kick off detailed negotiations on Iran's uranium enrichment program.
Sources among American officials said that a team of 100 leading experts has already been formed, ready to join the process if a preliminary agreement is reached. It is likely that Witkoff and Kushner met with them to discuss plans for the disposal of nuclear materials, restrictions on the enrichment program and mechanisms for verifying compliance with the future agreement, the publication says.
The authors of the article recalled that Trump at the end of last week proposed making two amendments to the text of the memorandum with Iran. Tehran responded by saying it would also insist on its changes.
Axios noted that negotiations are in the final phase, although a final agreement has not yet been reached. According to sources, contradictions remain, but they are minor. The parties disagree on the details regarding the timing of the disposal of enriched uranium and the unfreezing of Iranian financial assets. In particular, Trump wants the final agreement to include 60 days to complete the process of reducing the level of uranium enrichment, while Iran insists on 90 days. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
