Hawkish national security experts are slamming President Trump’s opening bid for nuclear talks with Iran as little more than a rehash of the Obama-era nuclear deal, leading his top negotiator to backtrack on his previous position.

Trump's point person for talks with Iran, Steve Witkoff, said Monday night that the Islamic Republic could maintain a program enriching uranium up to 3.67 percent, the limit included in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration.

But by Tuesday morning, Witkoff reversed, saying the president's position was to eliminate Iran's ability to enrich uranium — the fuel needed for a nuclear weapon.

“Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East — meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program,” Witkoff wrote on the social media site X.

“It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do.”

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) welcomed Witkoff’s reversal. “Well said and right on!” he replied to the post.

The reversal came on the heels of outrage among Iran hawks, and including Trump supporters.

“Given Iran's secret nuclear weapons research, Iran cannot be trusted to do ANY uranium enrichment,” said Fred Fleitz, vice chair of the America First Policy Institute, the think-tank staffed by officials who served in Trump’s first administration. Fleitz was chief of staff of Trump’s first National Security Council.

Fleitz described the Obama-era deal, which Trump........

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