Iran ‘a week away’ from nuclear bomb-making uranium? US questions why Tehran still hasn't capitulated

With Iran’s nuclear programme inching closer to producing weapons-usable uranium, the United States is ramping up diplomatic and military pressure. And US officials are openly questioning why Tehran hasn’t backed down.

US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, warned this week that Iran could be as little as “a week away from having industrial-grade bomb-making material.” That comment comes amid indirect nuclear talks in Geneva and escalating US military deployments in the region.

‘Very dangerous’ leap toward weapons potential

Witkoff told Fox News that Tehran’s uranium enrichment has reached about 60 percent purity, far beyond what is needed for civilian nuclear power and dangerously close to the levels required for a bomb. “They’re probably a week away from having industrial-grade bomb-making material,” he said. “That’s really dangerous.”

The US position has been clear: Washington wants Iran to halt enrichment and surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, a stance Iran has repeatedly rejected. Tehran insists its programme is peaceful and part of its sovereign right under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

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Tehran refuses to capitulate

That refusal to yield under pressure has puzzled the US side. Referring to pressure from American military assets in the Middle East, Witkoff said he’s “curious why they haven’t capitulated.” “Why, under this pressure… why haven’t they come to us and said, ‘We profess we don’t want a weapon, so here’s what we’re prepared to do’?” he asked.

Iranian leaders, for their part, have dug in. President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would not bow to what he called coercive tactics, vowing national unity against external pressure. Tehran has also floated possible concessions—such as lowering the purity of its enriched uranium or exporting parts of its stockpile—but only “in exchange for phased sanctions relief” and recognition of its enrichment rights.

Talks continue, but gaps remain

Negotiators for both sides have met in Oman and later in Geneva. The talks are further expected to continue on Thursady, as per Badr Albusaidi, foreign minister of regional mediator Oman.

While diplomats describe the discussions as constructive, sharp divides remain over core issues like enrichment limits, monitoring, and sequencing of sanctions relief. Iran’s foreign minister has said a written proposal for a deal could be ready soon, though he stressed that no side has asked Tehran to fully halt enrichment as part of the talks.

Behind the scenes, tensions spill over into broader regional concerns. Iran’s refusal to back down, its widening nuclear capabilities, and Washington’s expanded military footprint are raising alarm bells among neighbouring states and global powers alike.