Lindsey Graham Warns Trump Against Reaching An Enrichment Moratorium Deal

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham warned President Donald Trump against reaching a deal with Iran that would impose a 20-year moratorium on uranium enrichment.

The warning follows an Axios report on the proposal, which has not been officially confirmed. The outlet claimed that Tehran signaled openness to the idea but for a shorter, “single digit” period.

Reacting to the development, Graham said in a social media publication that while he appreciates Trump’s “resolve to end the Iranian conflict peacefully and through diplomacy,” the U.S. has to “remember who we’re dealing with in Iran: terrorists, liars and cheaters.”

“If this reporting is accurate, the idea that we would agree to a moratorium on enrichment rather than a ban on enrichment would be a mistake in my view. Would we agree to a moratorium for al Qaeda to enrich? No. The only difference between al Qaeda and the Iranian regime is that one is a Sunni terrorist organization and the other is a Shia terrorist state. They both have the same goal when it comes to the United States, Israel and the civilized world,” Graham added.

“No enrichment means no enrichment. Over 20 nations have peaceful nuclear power programs without enrichment capability. You can have peaceful nuclear power without enrichment, but you cannot make a bomb without enrichment. Again, no enrichment for Iran. They want a bomb and they cheat,” he concluded.

No agreement was reached and talks ended in Pakistan during the weekend, but developments on Monday suggest contacts are still ongoing. Trump said Iranian leaders called him on Monday and they “would like to work a deal.”

Speaking to press at the White House, Trump said he got a call from “the right people” in the country about resuming talks, but emphasized on the need to get a commitment from Tehran about not pursuing a nuclear weapon.

“If they don’t agree, there’s no deal, there’ll never be a deal,” he said. “Iran will not have a nuclear weapon, and we’re going to get the dust back. We’ll get it back, either we’ll get it back from them, or we’ll take it,” he added, in reference to the nuclear material targeted last year as part of the 12-day war with Israel.

Moreover, CBS News claimed that engagement between the two countries has continued since the weekend, with one official familiar with the matter telling the outlet that there is “forward motion on trying to get to an agreement.”