The GOP isn’t shy to let the president know what they want. They believe this could be a turning point for the country.
And Republicans have struck Trump in the face with this high stakes demand.
Congressional Republicans Press Trump for Unyielding Iran Nuclear Stance
Congressional Republicans have rallied behind a resolute strategy to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, urging President Donald Trump to demand the total elimination of the regime’s uranium enrichment capabilities. A letter, backed by over 200 lawmakers, signals robust support for a hardline approach, emphasizing that anything less would jeopardize U.S. security.
The letter, led by Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), chair of the House Republican Study Committee, garnered signatures from nearly every GOP senator—save for Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.)—and 177 House Republicans.
It sharply criticizes the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which the lawmakers argue allowed Iran to bide its time while advancing its nuclear program. “We cannot afford another agreement that enables Iran to play for time, as the JCPOA did,” they wrote.
Demand for Complete Enrichment Halt
The Republicans insist that Iran must abandon all uranium enrichment, even for energy uses, citing the regime’s extensive nuclear buildup. “The scope and breadth of Iran’s nuclear buildout have made it impossible to verify any new deal that allows Iran to continue enriching uranium,” the letter says. “The regime must give up any capacity for enrichment.”
Praising Trump’s first-term decision to exit the JCPOA and implement a “maximum pressure” campaign, the lawmakers expressed confidence in his administration’s current stance.
“You and your administration have therefore correctly drawn a red line against a deal that allows Iran to retain any enrichment capacity,” they noted, pledging to provide “whatever resources you need to advance American national security interests.”
Mixed Signals from the Administration
However, recent mixed signals from the administration have sparked uncertainty. When asked last week whether Iran could maintain a civilian enrichment program without producing weapons-grade material, Trump replied, “We haven’t made that decision yet.”
In contrast, Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff recently took a firmer stance, declaring in a Breitbart interview, “An enrichment program can never exist in the state of Iran ever again.”
This marked a shift from Witkoff’s earlier comments on Fox News, where he suggested Iran could enrich uranium up to 3.67 percent for civilian purposes but not beyond levels like 20 or 60 percent, which the regime has reached.
Iran’s Firm Stance on Nuclear Rights
Such demands could strain negotiations with Tehran, which has consistently defended its right to a peaceful nuclear program. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi called enrichment “non-negotiable,” stating, “If the goal of the negotiations is to deprive Iran of its nuclear rights, I state clearly that Iran will not back down from any of its rights.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed this sentiment, labeling calls to dismantle Iran’s nuclear facilities “unacceptable” and vowing, “Iran will not give up its peaceful nuclear rights under any circumstances and will not back down from its rights in the face of pressure.”
Despite these tensions, recent talks in Oman between U.S. and Iranian officials concluded on a cautiously optimistic note. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi indicated flexibility per Tasnim News Agency, noting, “For a limited period of time, we can accept a series of restrictions on the level and volume of enrichment,” though details remain unresolved.
As negotiations continue, the Republican letter highlights a clear message: any deal must permanently halt Iran’s enrichment capabilities to safeguard U.S. interests. With Congressional backing, the Trump administration faces mounting pressure to hold the line.
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column.
