As talks continue in Rome regarding Iran’s nuclear program, doubts are growing about whether Tehran will truly commit to a new agreement.

Gen. Jack Keane stated on “The Story with Martha MacCallum” that Iran is using the same deceptive tactics it used to secure the 2015 JCPOA agreement with the Obama administration, calling it a “bold-faced lie” that led to a “disastrous” deal.

Keane explained that Iran is falsely claiming it will reduce highly enriched uranium levels for civilian purposes, believing the Trump administration will accept this despite Trump’s withdrawal from the previous deal in 2018.

President Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018 because he believed it failed to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

Digital inquired with the State Department about Iran’s history of dishonesty regarding its nuclear pledges.

A State Department spokesperson responded that these issues will be addressed during negotiations and that the president is firm that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon or enrichment program. They hope to establish a framework and timeline for a peaceful agreement that meets the president’s objectives.

President Trump stated on Friday that he simply wants to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Uranium enrichment is crucial for Iran’s progress toward developing a nuclear weapon.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that while Iran is ready to address concerns and build confidence, the issue of enrichment is non-negotiable.

Mark Wallace, CEO of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), noted that the Bush administration had enshrined zero enrichment in U.N. Security Council resolutions. He said that the Obama administration’s decision to allow enrichment up to 3.67% paved the way for the flawed JCPOA, which has allowed Iran to manipulate the international community.

The Obama administration’s concession on uranium enrichment has made it harder for Trump to stop Iran’s weapons program. Iran has used this right to accelerate its program, and the IAEA reported in February that Iran has produced enough uranium for six atomic bombs and has not resolved outstanding issues.

Trump stated in late March that he would launch military strikes against Iran if it did not agree to his demands for a new nuclear pact.

Prior to the US withdrawal from the JCPOA, German intelligence reports from 2017 indicated that Iran attempted to acquire illicit technology for its military nuclear and ballistic missile programs, raising concerns about violating the 2015 agreement.

John Hannah, a senior fellow at JINSA, stated that the Trump administration has outlined a two-month framework to reach a deal with Iran.

Hannah, who advised Vice President Dick Cheney, was involved in developing U.S. strategy regarding talks with Iran during the Bush administration.

Historically, military pressure has influenced Iran to make concessions. The U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 reportedly influenced Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s views on nuclear weapons.

Khamenei feared American military action at the time.

Hannah said Trump’s military threat brought Khamenei to the negotiating table because it threatened his regime. He defined dismantlement as requiring Iran to remove all enriched uranium, destroy centrifuges, and dismantle the Fordow and Natanz nuclear sites.

JINSA released an focusing on Trump administration officials’ comments on verification and dismantlement.

According to , an Iranian official said that Iran told the United States last week that it was willing to accept some limits on its uranium enrichment but needed guarantees that President Trump would not abandon the deal again.

The official stated that Iran’s red lines, set by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, meant Iran would never dismantle centrifuges, halt enrichment, or reduce enriched uranium stockpiles below the levels agreed to in the 2015 deal.

Iran would also not negotiate over its missile program, which it considers outside the scope of any nuclear deal.

Top U.S. negotiator Steve Witkoff said Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment to reach a deal with Washington.

Reuters contributed to this report.