US May Ease Demands For Iran To Gut Nuclear Program

08:29

September 26, 2014

President of Iran Hassan Rouhani addresses the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly September 25, 2014 at the United Nations in New York. (Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images)

Diplomats say the U.S. may ease up on its demands on Iran to gut its uranium enrichment program.

Diplomats say the U.S. is now considering a proposal that would allow Tehran to cut the number of operating centrifuges roughly in half — down to about 4,500.

The U.S. ideally wanted no more than 1,500 left operating.

The U.S. fears Tehran may enrich its uranium to weapons-grade level for arm nuclear warheads. Iran insists it wants to use the technology only to make reactor fuel and for other peaceful purposes.

Here & Now's Robin Young discusses the potential Iran deal and the rest of the news out of the United Nations General Assembly with MIT security expert Jim Walsh.

Guest

Jim Walsh, expert in international security at MIT’s Security Studies Program. He tweets @DrJimWalshMIT.

This segment aired on September 26, 2014.