Tehran (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Iran may cut uranium enrichment to 20% to prevent UK and UN sanctions, balancing internal political pressure and international diplomatic demands.
As reported by The Telegraph, Tehran plans to lower uranium enrichment to prevent the UK and UN from reimposing sanctions.
What did officials say about Iran reducing uranium enrichment?
Iranian authorities indicate the regime may ease its hardline stance to avoid further military strikes from Israel and the US.
Ali Larijani, newly appointed secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, is leading efforts to reduce uranium enrichment to 20%, down from 60%.
An Iranian official said,
“Larijani is trying to convince the system to reduce the level of enrichment to avoid another war.”
They added,
“He’s concerned that without lowering it or meeting some of the West’s demands, the system will face another major challenge.”
The official said Mr Larijani aims to reduce uranium enrichment to 20%, but faces resistance, particularly from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Officials indicate Iran’s leadership is prepared to comply and re-engage with Western nations.
The current enrichment level is roughly 90% purity, sparking international concerns about potential nuclear weapons development.
Ali Larijani’s role in Iran’s nuclear talks
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reinstated 68-year-old Ali Larijani to the position he served between 2005 and 2007. He was one of Ayatollah Khamenei’s council representatives and led Iran’s nuclear negotiations with international powers.
Under Mr Larijani’s first term, the IAEA board of governors referred Iran’s nuclear case to the UN Security Council within six months.
Mr Larijani returns to his position while three European nations stand prepared to refer Iran’s nuclear file to the Security Council should diplomacy break down.
Europe and Iran nuclear talks
The UK, France, and Germany have warned they will restore sanctions lifted in 2015. They said this will happen unless Tehran agrees to restart nuclear talks before the end of August 2025.
The “snapback” clause of the 2015 nuclear pact expires in October, pressing Europeans to act before losing sway over Iran. It allows any country to claim Iran broke the deal and bring back sanctions. After it ends, new sanctions need UN approval, and China or Russia could block them.
Under the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran secured major economic relief after nearly a decade of sanctions. In return, it agreed to curb uranium enrichment to prevent weapons development.
Although 20% enrichment is below Iran’s recent levels, it still far exceeds the 3.67% cap set in the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, held phone talks on Friday, 23 August, with his French, German and British counterparts to prevent the return of UN sanctions and agreed to meet them next week.
European worries have intensified since Iran severed cooperation with the IAEA after its 12-day war with Israel in June.
Abbas Araghchi’s views on Iran’s stance on sanctions
In a statement after Friday’s meeting, Abbas Araghchi condemned the move, saying the countries “lacked legal and moral grounds” to impose sanctions, but confirmed negotiations would continue.
The statement added,
“The Islamic Republic of Iran, just as it acts authoritatively in self-defence, has never abandoned the path of diplomacy and is ready for any diplomatic solution that guarantees the rights and interests of the Iranian people.”
David Lammy’s stance on Iran’s nuclear talks
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to diplomacy but warned that sanctions remain an option if talks stall.
He confirmed holding phone talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and European counterparts, raising concerns over Iran’s nuclear program.
Mr Lammy added,
“We are committed to diplomacy, but time is short. We have offered Iran a diplomatic solution with an extension to sanctions relief. Without a verifiable, durable deal, this will end.”
How is Khamenei balancing power and survival?
Iran’s internal rifts highlight uncertainty in its approach toward the West. Khamenei faces growing pressure within the regime to balance nuclear goals against survival.
Since Israel’s June strikes, he has appeared publicly only twice, remaining absent in recent weeks.
Reformists are urging a halt to uranium enrichment linked to US sanctions relief, while pushing for internal political change.
How did Masoud Pezeshkian’s comments trigger a hardliner backlash?
At a press conference, Iran’s president upended months of talks, triggering a political storm and laying bare divisions among the leadership.
Mr Pezeshkian said,
“If we don’t talk, what should we do? Do you want to fight?”
Asking,
“They hit us, we rebuild, and they’ll hit us again.”
Aziz Ghazanfari, the IRGC’s deputy political chief, warned that repeated verbal slips could compromise national security.
He added,
“Foreign policy is not a place to state every reality. The dangers of careless remarks by senior officials fall first on their own governments.”
Rahim Safavi’s stance on Iran’s defence posture
Iran’s defence ministry staged ballistic missile drills, signalling military readiness as diplomatic tensions rise.
Brig Gen Rahim Safavi, a top advisor to Khamenei, highlighted Iran’s firm military stance in recent remarks.
He said,
“We are now in a state of war, and there is a possibility that this situation could collapse at any moment.”
Mr Safavi stated that Iranian military officials believed that
“whoever wants peace must be prepared for war, and the best method of defence is attack.”
What did the Tehran professor say about Iran’s critical juncture?
A political analyst at a Tehran university said Iran faces a crucial moment, balancing domestic support and Western engagement.
He stated,
“That is difficult – they have never been able to do both at the same time, and now it’s even harder. Many believe that engaging with the West is equivalent to losing a preemptive strike against us.”
The professor added,
“But the reality is, they have no other option but to find a way to survive. That could mean reducing enrichment levels, though perhaps only as a way to buy time. In the past, they were trying to advance –now they are simply trying to get back to where they were before the US strikes.”
Key facts about Iran’s uranium enrichment program
Iran’s uranium enrichment started in the 1980s and was revealed in 2002 at Natanz, triggering sanctions. It now enriches uranium up to 60%, with a 408 kg stockpile by mid-2025.
Tehran claims its program is for peaceful purposes. However, its high enrichment and past weaponisation plans raise concerns. This has fueled ongoing diplomatic tensions and occasional military actions on its facilities.