Ankara: President Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, visited Tennessee to engage with technical experts potentially pivotal for future nuclear negotiations with Iran, Axios reported Friday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the White House is pursuing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran, aiming to end ongoing conflicts and initiate comprehensive nuclear discussions. While several issues remain, negotiations are reportedly nearing completion, though a definitive agreement is yet to be secured. A U.S. official highlighted the significance of the Oak Ridge meeting, expressing that although a deal is not guaranteed, the negotiations have reached a critical phase, necessitating thorough preparation.

Oak Ridge is notable for its expertise in uranium processing and centrifuge technology. The report indicates that a team of approximately 100 experts has been assembled to bolster negotiations should a preliminary agreement be reached. Witkoff and Kushner's discussions with these experts focused on necessary preparations.

Recently, Trump's envoys and Iranian officials reportedly agreed on a 60-day MOU, covering ceasefire extensions, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian oil sales, and discussions on Iran's enriched uranium stockpile and future enrichment limits. However, President Trump has requested amendments to the draft, with Iran also proposing revisions. A significant contention lies in the timeline for down-blending Iran's enriched uranium, with the U.S. advocating for 60 days and Iran favoring 90. Additionally, disagreements persist over the release timing and amount of frozen Iranian funds.

Should talks progress, the expert team would play a crucial role in devising plans for managing Iran's nuclear material, enforcing further enrichment limits, and ensuring compliance. Some experts involved recently assisted in recovering enriched uranium from Venezuela, which was transferred to South Carolina for processing last month.