WANA (May 31) – Fresh remarks by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding Washington’s conditions for concluding negotiations with Iran have once again highlighted what appears to be an expansion of U.S. demands in the ongoing indirect talks between the two countries — a trend that American media outlets had already reported in recent days.

 

Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, Bessent reiterated Washington’s claims about Iran’s nuclear program and outlined three issues that, according to the United States, would define a successful end to the negotiations.

 

“If finishing the job means ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, securing Iran’s highly enriched uranium, and making sure Iran does not possess a nuclear weapon, then that would be finishing the job,” he said.

 

His comments come despite Iran’s repeated insistence on its sovereign rights regarding the Strait of Hormuz and its rejection of proposals involving the transfer of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

 

Bessent also claimed that Iran is discussing the issue of not possessing nuclear weapons “for the first time,” a statement that contrasts with Tehran’s long-standing position. Iranian officials have repeatedly maintained that nuclear weapons have no place in the country’s defense doctrine, and the issue was extensively addressed during the negotiations that led to the 2015 nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

 

The Treasury secretary’s remarks follow recent reports by U.S. media suggesting that Washington has increased its demands in the negotiation process. Both CNN and CBS reported that the administration of President Donald Trump introduced new requirements through intermediaries during the latest round of talks and sought significant revisions to the draft framework agreement.

 

The developments underscore the continuing uncertainty surrounding the future of the negotiations, as major disagreements remain unresolved, particularly over Iran’s uranium enrichment program and the scope and sequencing of sanctions relief.