Iran Rejects US Demand, Insists Uranium Stockpile Must Remain In Country

Iran has reportedly hardened its position in ongoing nuclear negotiations with the United States, with senior officials insisting that its stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium must remain inside the country, a stance that could further complicate already fragile diplomatic talks. The development comes amid heightened tensions following years of confrontation between Iran, the United States, and Israel over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

According to senior Iranian sources cited in reports, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has issued a directive stating that enriched uranium stockpiles should not be transferred abroad under any potential agreement, reflecting growing mistrust of Western intentions. Iranian officials believe that relocating the uranium outside the country would weaken its strategic position and leave it more vulnerable to future military strikes.

The stance directly challenges one of Washington’s key negotiating demands, which reportedly includes the removal of highly enriched uranium from Iranian territory as part of any broader peace or nuclear deal framework. Israeli officials, meanwhile, have maintained that any agreement must ensure the complete removal of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, alongside restrictions on missile capabilities and support for regional proxy groups.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously stated that Israel would not consider hostilities resolved unless such conditions are met, underscoring the deep mistrust between the parties involved. The United States, under President Donald Trump, has continued to apply pressure on Tehran, with warnings of renewed military action if negotiations fail to produce results. Iranian officials, however, have expressed concerns that diplomatic engagement may be used as a cover for renewed strikes, contributing to Tehran’s increasingly rigid position in the talks.

Despite the hardened rhetoric, reports suggest that some limited areas of understanding have emerged in negotiations, though fundamental disagreements remain over enrichment rights and the fate of Iran’s uranium stockpile. Iranian sources have indicated that alternative proposals, such as supervised dilution of enriched material under International Atomic Energy Agency oversight, could still be considered as part of a potential compromise.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has previously estimated that Iran possessed hundreds of kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, though the current status of the stockpile remains uncertain following reported military strikes and escalating regional tensions. As diplomacy continues, the uranium issue remains one of the most critical and unresolved elements in the broader geopolitical standoff.

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