U.S. seeks 20-year nuclear halt as Iran offers 5-year pause in stalled talks

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.