Trump Accepts Iran’s 20-Year Nuclear Programme Suspension, Demands Strait of Hormuz Reopening

US President Donald Trump said he would accept a 20-year suspension by Iran of its nuclear programme, telling reporters on Air Force One that it had to be a "real 20 years."

The BBC reported that Trump’s remarks appeared to confirm a shift away from his previous demand that Iran permanently cease enriching uranium and be prevented from ever acquiring nuclear weapons.

Al-Quds al-Arabi

Trump also said his patience with Iran was running out, with no sign of a breakthrough in talks, while Israeli and US forces began massive air strikes on Iran on 28 February.

The BBC said a ceasefire in place since last month to facilitate talks has been largely observed, despite some exchanges of fire, and that Pakistan has been playing the role of mediator.

In the same BBC account, Trump said the two sides agreed Tehran could not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon and must reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which he said it is currently blocking.

The Times of Israel said Trump told reporters that he would accept a 20-year suspension of uranium enrichment if Tehran gave a “real” guarantee, and he answered a question about whether “20 years is not enough” by saying, “No, 20 years is enough, but the level of guarantee from them, in other words, it’s gotta be a real 20 years…”.

In that same account, Trump complained that Iran said it cannot remove its nuclear “dust,” referring to an underground stockpile of 440 kilograms of highly enriched uranium.

Al-Yawm as-Sabi'

ynetnews reported Trump said Friday, “I have no problem with Iran suspending its enrichment program for 20 years — but it has to be a real commitment,” while also saying he was considering lifting sanctions on Chinese companies that purchase Iranian oil.

ynetnews added that an Al Jazeera correspondent cited an Iranian source saying, “Tehran has formally received Washington's response to its proposal, and the U.S. has rejected all of Iran's conditions.”

ynetnews also quoted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warning that “Pakistan’s mediation process has not failed, but it is facing difficulties,” and saying “Iran is fully prepared to go back to fighting, and also prepared for diplomatic solutions.”

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that China’s UN envoy said, “We don't think the content is right, and the timing is not right,” in response to a proposed US-Bahraini resolution on the Strait of Hormuz that would have demanded Iran cease attacks and mining in the waterway.

In the same RFE/RL account, the UAE rejected what it called Tehran’s “attempts to justify” its attacks on Gulf countries, with UAE Minister of State Khalifa bin Shaheen Al Marar affirming the country’s "categorical rejection of Iranian claims and attempts to justify Iranian terrorist attacks."

RFE/RL said Tehran effectively closed the strait and has said it will begin charging tolls through the international waterway, through which some 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supplies transit.

The article also said the US State Department announced US-mediated follow-up talks later this month and in June after Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 45-day extension of a cease-fire.

In parallel, RFE/RL reported that Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said 20 Iranians and 11 Pakistanis aboard vessels “seized in the high seas by the United States” are being repatriated, and that all 31 “are in good health and high spirits.”