# nuclear diplomacy

Why Iran Won’t Give Up Uranium Enrichment: Pride, Leverage and the Limits of Pressure

Iran views its uranium enrichment programme as a core element of national sovereignty and regime legitimacy, not a mere technical capability. Domestic politics, deterrence logic and a desire to retain leverage explain why Tehran resists U.S. pressure to abandon enrichment, even as higher enrichment levels have increased regional tensions and risked military confrontation.