US sets new demands for Iran deal: What are they?

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that the United States is pressing Iran to sharply reduce, though not necessarily eliminate, uranium enrichment as part of any deal to end the war. The shift was reflected in remarks by US Vice President JD Vance, who said Tehran would need to make a “meaningful” cut in enrichment capacity to show it is not pursuing a nuclear weapon. The article says this may indicate more flexibility than earlier US demands, while noting that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump have continued to use uncompromising language about Iran’s nuclear program.

According to the report, Iran’s leaders remain skeptical of Washington’s intentions. President Masoud Pezeshkian said talks were “futile,” accusing the US of using negotiations while maintaining pressure on Iran. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, however, said only talks based on “justice and fairness” could end the conflict, leaving open the possibility of further diplomacy.

The piece says the main barriers to a deal go beyond uranium enrichment. Tehran wants relief from sanctions, an end to the US naval blockade, the release of frozen assets, and steps toward stopping wider regional fighting. Al Jazeera also notes that Iran recently floated a proposal at the United Nations that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restart talks, but that Washington rejected it. Analysts quoted by the outlet said any agreement would likely need to address both nuclear limits and broader economic and security demands to succeed.