Iran Says U.S. Has Not Asked It to Stop Enriching Uranium

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Friday, February 20, 2026, that the United States has not asked Iran to stop enriching uranium during nuclear deal negotiations held in Switzerland this week, directly contradicting the public position of the Trump administration. 'They have not offered any suspension, and the U.S. side has not asked for zero enrichment,' Araghchi said in an interview on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe,' revealing a significant discrepancy between the two nations' public statements despite ongoing diplomatic discussions. The Iranian minister mentioned that Tehran was developing 'confidence-building measures' to assure the United States that its nuclear program remains peaceful, though he remained vague about the specific nature of these measures. This development comes amid heightened tensions, with President Trump repeatedly demanding Iran abandon its nuclear program entirely and his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff declaring Iran's enrichment capability an absolute 'red line' that could potentially enable nuclear weapons development. A White House official immediately contested Araghchi's assessment, emphasizing that Trump had been clear that Iran could not possess uranium enrichment capacity or nuclear weapons capabilities. The contradictory statements create confusion about the actual progress and terms of the negotiations, which follow indirect discussions through Omani diplomats in Geneva earlier this week. According to three Iranian officials familiar with the talks, Tehran had indicated a willingness to suspend nuclear enrichment for three to five years, covering Trump's presidency, before joining a regional group for civilian-grade enrichment. In exchange, Iran has demanded the lifting of financial and banking sanctions as well as the oil embargo. Despite these apparent concessions, Trump told reporters on Friday he was considering a limited military strike and warned that 'bad things' could happen if Iran does not agree to a deal within the next 10 days, as the U.S. military has built up forces near Iran, potentially enabling immediate military action. The discussions concluded with an agreement on 'guidelines' for the talks and both sides preparing to exchange drafts on a potential deal, though the timing of the next round remains uncertain.