Senior US official calls Iran concession on uranium ‘major, major win’
A senior US official told reporters on Wednesday that concessions made by Iran in the memorandum of understanding signed by President Donald Trump were “major” wins for the United States.
Speaking in a call with reporters on condition of anonymity, two senior officials outlined the 14-point deal and read it verbatim.
One of the agreed-upon points establishes a minimum standard for Iran’s enriched uranium to be down-blended, the first official said.
“They’re saying: ‘We will destroy the enriched stockpile, and this is how we’re going to do it, at a minimum,’” the official added.
Both officials also pushed back against criticism from all sides, including Israel, some Republicans in Washington, and neoconservative supporters of US President Donald Trump.
The first official said the Iranian and Israeli press misrepresented or misunderstood the agreement. “It commits us to quite literally nothing. But… if Iranians do a lot of good, then we want to reward that good behavior and transform their relationship with the Middle East and the world,” the official added.
Regarding Israeli criticism, the second official said, “Nothing has been requested of us,” in response to reports that Washington rejected an Israeli request to see the MoU. “They (Israel) remain skeptical, as we remain skeptical, and obviously they’re preparing for what will happen” if Iran does not comply with the deal, the second official said.
Lebanon and Hezbollah
Asked about Lebanon, which was mentioned in the first paragraph, the second official said the Trump administration was very clear with Iran on Hezbollah.
“They have to get a collar on their dog in Hezbollah; they’ve got to hold them back. And if Hezbollah attacks Israel, Israel is going to have the full ability to go and attack back.”
The deal, which the first official read out, says, in the first paragraph, that the US and Iran, “and their allies in the current war,” declare an immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.
They also “undertake from now on not to initiate any war or any military operation against each other, and to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other and ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon.”
The first paragraph adds: “The final deal will confirm the permanent termination of the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon and other provisions of this paragraph.”
The officials said either side could walk away from the MoU if they felt that there was a failure to comply or implement the commitments.
