Iran reportedly ready to shut down nuclear program to avoid US conflict

Iran has indicated it is willing to shut down or suspend its nuclear program to calm a spiraling crisis with the United States, JPost reported on Tuesday, citing The New York Times.

The reported offer, part of back-channel exchanges in recent weeks, is aimed at averting a war after Washington threatened to use force if Tehran defied its demands.

The discussions have been relayed by regional intermediaries, the NYT added. 

Envoys from Turkey, Egypt, Oman, and Iraq have been passing messages between the sides to avert escalation ahead of the set meeting between the US and Iran on Friday.

The NYT also reported that National Security Council secretary Ali Larijani recently met Vladimir Putin, conveying that Iran might again ship enriched uranium to Russia as under the 2015 deal.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted the topic “has long been on the agenda,” while Iran insists its program is for energy, not weapons.

US President Donald Trump vowed to use force if Tehran ignored his demands and announced an “armada” heading toward Iran. 

"We have ships heading to Iran right now, big ones ... and we have talks going on with Iran. We'll see how it works out," he told reporters on Monday.