‘Token enrichment’ aimed at scaling down Iran’s nuclear gains
A senior US official has said Iranian negotiators were informed during the Geneva talks that President Donald Trump’s position is “zero enrichment” on Iranian soil. However, the unnamed official added that if Iran’s proposal includes “small, token enrichment” and the Iranians provide precise documentation demonstrating that this level poses no threat, the United States would review it. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, however, told reporters on Friday that the American side did not ask Iran during the Geneva talks to agree to “zero enrichment,” and he also rejected claims that Iran had proposed a temporary suspension of its enrichment program during those negotiations. Abbas Aslani, an international affairs expert, told Iran Daily that raising terms such as “token enrichment” is, in fact, largely a form of wordplay aimed at scaling down whatever nuclear concessions might potentially be granted to Iran by the United States.
IRAN DAILY: From a technical and legal standpoint, how is the concept “token enrichment” defined, and could it be accepted or managed within Iran’s nuclear policies?
ASLANI: This concept has no clear definition or established status in the technical literature of the International Atomic Energy Agency or even in international law concerning treaties, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. It appears that such expressions are coined to downplay, belittle, or constrain Iran’s nuclear achievements, as Tehran maintains that, based on its inherent rights, it is entitled to benefit from the nuclear fuel cycle.
Naturally, the other side seeks to minimize this and portray it as insignificant. Iran has repeatedly stated that it will carry out the level of enrichment required to meet its needs. Tehran’s position, both in the past and at present, seems clear. Labeling it as “symbolic” would not appear to be acceptable to Iran. However, enrichment would be pursued in line with the country’s needs and within the framework of any agreement reached, while a reduction in enrichment levels—and, naturally, in the number of centrifuges or their scale—had already been anticipated.
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