Iran is prepared to scale back uranium enrichment from 60% to 20% in a bid to prevent further airstrikes and the reimposition of UN sanctions, the Telegraph reported on Sunday citing unnamed Iranian officials.
Under efforts led by the country's new top security official Ali Larijani, Tehran is willing to soften its hardline stance to avoid further military strikes from Israel and the United States, the report added citing Iranian officials.
The report comes on the same day as Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei rejected calls by Tehran moderates for direct negotiations with the United States.
Before US airstrikes on its nuclear facilities in June, Iran’s uranium enrichment was approaching weapons grade, heightening international concern over its nuclear ambitions.
The United Kingdom, France, and Germany (E3) have warned Iran they would restore UN sanctions by the end of August by triggering the so-called snapback mechanism unless Tehran reengages in talks on its nuclear program immediately and produced concrete results.
The “snapback mechanism” is part of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Under Resolution 2231, any party to the accord can file a complaint accusing Iran of non-compliance. If no agreement is reached within 30 days to maintain sanctions relief, all previous UN sanctions automatically “snap back,” including arms embargoes, cargo inspections, and missile restrictions.
On Friday, a phone call between Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, his E3 counterparts and European foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas failed to make any progress.
An Axios report said the call started "in a confrontational tone with the Iranian foreign minister ranting about whether E3 have the right to trigger snapback."
“After E3 pushback, Araghchi expressed some openness to an extension of the snapback but stressed this is for the United Nations Security Council to decide, not for Iran,” the report said citing an unnamed source.
Following the call, Kallas urged Iran to engage with the US and cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog to avert the return of UN sanctions.
"Europe is committed to a diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue. With the deadline for the snapback mechanism fast approaching, Iran’s readiness to engage with the US is crucial. Iran must also fully cooperate with the IAEA," Kallas wrote in a post on X.
The talks between Iran and the E3 are expected to resume in Vienna on Tuesday.
