US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner travelled to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee on Thursday for consultations with technical experts who could play a role in nuclear negotiations with Iran , according to a report by Axios .
The report, citing US officials and regional sources involved in mediation efforts, said Washington and Tehran remain at odds over several details in a proposed memorandum of understanding, although sources described the negotiations as being in their final stages.
While it remains unclear whether a deal will ultimately be reached, officials indicated that preparations are under way for a possible next phase of talks.
A US official told Axios that the meeting in Oak Ridge should not be taken as confirmation that an agreement is imminent, but said it reflected the seriousness of the negotiations and the possibility of progress.
According to the report, a team of around 100 experts has been assembled in anticipation of participating in nuclear negotiations should a preliminary agreement be reached.
The experts consulted by Witkoff and Kushner include specialists who previously took part in the recovery of uranium from Venezuela, as well as individuals involved in US-Iran discussions held in Oman before the outbreak of the war.
A US official said the group includes "the top nuclear experts in the US" and that they are familiar with the technical requirements that would accompany any agreement with Iran.
If negotiations move into a second phase, the expert team would be expected to draw up plans for the disposal of Iranian nuclear materials, propose additional restrictions on uranium enrichment, and establish mechanisms to verify compliance with any future deal.
The remaining disagreements between Washington and Tehran are relatively limited, Axios reported. Among the issues still under discussion is the timeframe for reducing Iran's uranium enrichment activities.
According to two sources familiar with the talks, Trump wants any final agreement to include a 60-day deadline for completing the reduction of enriched uranium levels, while Iran is seeking a 90-day period.
The two sides also remain divided over the release of frozen Iranian funds. Washington has argued that assets should be released only after a final agreement is concluded and concrete implementation steps are taken, while Tehran is seeking the immediate release of part of the money.
The United States is currently awaiting Iran's response to the latest proposals, according to the report.
US officials told Axios that the White House has received positive indications from Iranian negotiators as efforts continue to bridge the remaining gaps.