WASHINGTON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Washington has proposed a 20-year suspension of Iran's nuclear activities, while Iran has countered with a proposal to suspend its nuclear program for up to five years during stalled talks in Pakistan on Saturday, according to a report from The New York Times.
Washington is not seeking a permanent ban on Iran's uranium enrichment, a compromise that would allow Tehran to argue it has not permanently relinquished its right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to produce nuclear fuel, the newspaper cited sources familiar with the talks as saying.
The U.S. side said that Iran's refusal to end its nuclear plans, dismantle its atomic infrastructure and ship its stockpile of fuel out of the country has always been the central dispute, according to the report.
Other issues looming over the negotiations include restoring free passage in the Strait of Hormuz and ending Iran's support for proxy groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, it added.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. negotiation team during the talks, said on Monday that there had been "some good conversations" with Iranian negotiators and the ball is now in Tehran's court.
"The big question from here on out is whether Iranians will have enough flexibility," Vance said on Fox News.
As to whether there would be additional talks in the coming days, Vance said the question would be "best put to the Iranians."
Earlier in the day, U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration received a call from Iran on Monday morning, claiming the Iranian government "would like to make a deal very badly," while signaling Washington's eagerness to reach a deal to end the conflict.
Trump didn't reveal whether Washington had agreed to another round of talks before the ceasefire expires on April 21, though multiple U.S. media outlets, citing U.S. officials and regional sources, said both sides leave room for further talks.
Trump also insisted that the sticking point in talks with Iran "was over nuclear," adding that a priority for the United States is to retrieve Iran's enriched uranium.
"We're going to get the (uranium) dust back. We'll get it back. Either we'll get it back from them or we'll take it," Trump reiterated.
The United States and Iran are still engaged in talks as both sides work toward a diplomatic off-ramp for the war, multiple U.S. media outlets reported on Monday.
"We are not in a complete deadlock. The door is not closed yet. Both sides are bargaining. It's a bazaar," a regional source told Axios. ■
