Divisions have emerged inside the Trump administration over how far to push Iran in nuclear negotiations, with top officials split between calls for full dismantlement and a more limited, verifiable deal, The New York Times reported on Tuesday.
While National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have maintained that Iran must be stripped of all enrichment capabilities, chief negotiator Steve Witkoff and Vice President JD Vance have privately argued that such a demand would likely derail the talks, the report said, citing officials familiar with internal discussions.
“Mr. Witkoff and Vice President JD Vance have argued internally that it would doom the negotiations to insist on full dismantlement,” the report said. Instead, they support strict verification measures, potentially run by the United States.
Witkoff initially suggested a softer approach during a Fox News interview Monday night, describing the need for “verification on enrichment... and ultimately verification on weaponization.” But following a White House meeting Tuesday, he released a new statement declaring, “Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program.”
Talks are set to resume Saturday.
