jordan pulse -

​American diplomatic sources revealed that US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff presented "strict" conditions to the Iranian delegation during their meeting in New York, aiming to transition discussions from the Strait of Hormuz crisis to the nuclear program. The conditions require establishing a binding timetable for international inspections by IAEA experts and American technicians of Iranian nuclear sites, starting with the "Jabal Al-Fas" facility, in exchange for proceeding seriously with the memorandum of understanding previously suspended by Donald Trump.
​American sources told Erem News that the US delegation—led by Witkoff alongside Jared Kushner in a session coordinated and attended by Qatari and Pakistani mediators—focused on prioritizing the nuclear file. The timetable for inspecting sites is to be linked to the "dynamics" of ending the port blockade and incrementally lifting sanctions or unfreezing assets.
​Sources noted that the Iranian regime's transfer of nuclear assets to the Jabal Al-Fas complex, along with reports of site preparations for testing and weaponization activities, demonstrates that Tehran is not pursuing peaceful nuclear energy but rather threatening international security—a stance the Trump administration will not accept.
​While Trump spoke positively about the US-Iranian meeting in New York, he emphasized that the US might attack "Jabal Al-Fas" if substantial nuclear activity is detected there, noting that previous strikes on Iranian sites were largely aimed at ensuring Tehran does not acquire a nuclear weapon.
​Mediators are working to arrange another meeting between US and Iranian officials in New York, focusing on drafting a working paper for a ceasefire and the resumption of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, with talks continuing at a faster pace afterward in Doha, Muscat, or a European city.
​However, these efforts face pressure from hardliners within the Iranian regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who oppose further direct meetings after internal friction arose over an unexpected direct encounter between Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi, which was originally scheduled to take place in separate rooms via mediators.
​A diplomat close to the White House National Security Council stated that Witkoff informed the Iranian delegation that the navigation crisis in the Strait of Hormuz must be framed within mutual good faith regarding the nuclear program. Linking the strait to sanctions relief and unfrozing funds complicates matters and hinders serious cooperation.
​Witkoff also pointed out that Iran itself disrupts the good faith it demands, as evidenced by massive transfers of centrifuges, nuclear materials, and entire laboratories from Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow to the Jabal Al-Fas facility, accompanied by the construction of tunnels and fortifications. He added that while Iran believed moving centrifuges to Jabal Al-Fas was secret, Chinese officials alerted them that their movements were exposed and targeted for bombing.
​Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian cited an "atmosphere of mistrust" between Tehran and Washington, while reiterating that his country has no desire to acquire nuclear weapons and will allow inspectors into the country.
​Leaks indicate that Trump recently instructed military and intelligence agencies to prepare plans to isolate the Jabal Al-Fas facility from Tehran's broader nuclear network through an air assault accompanied by missile strikes.
​Iranian affairs researcher Dr. Ahmed Al-Yasiri noted that ongoing conflict has intensified the nuclear crisis, with Iran positioning Jabal Al-Fas—under construction since 2020—as the core of its nuclear program. He explained that Iran is preparing to unveil its nuclear weapons project, while its occasional use of hypersonic missiles serves as a signal to Washington that mounting a nuclear warhead on advanced missiles would render Iran a fully capable nuclear power.
​Al-Yasiri concluded that Washington seeks to shift pressure back to the nuclear file and involve the IAEA more effectively, framing the conflict around countering this threat to minimize the fallout from challenges faced in the Strait of Hormuz.
​Source: Rum News Agency