Iran’s Supreme Leader has reportedly instructed that the country’s near-weapons-grade uranium stockpile must remain inside Iran, according to two senior Iranian sources, further hardening Tehran’s position in negotiations with the United States.
The reported directive is expected to complicate discussions aimed at ending the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, while increasing tensions over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Washington would not allow Iran to retain its highly enriched uranium stockpile.
“We will get it. We don’t need it, we don’t want it. We’ll probably destroy it after we get it, but we’re not going to let them have it,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
Israeli officials reportedly told Reuters that Trump had assured Israel that any future peace agreement must include the removal of Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile from the country.
Dispute over uranium stockpile deepens
Israel, the United States and several Western countries have long accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, particularly after Tehran enriched uranium to 60%, a level significantly higher than civilian requirements and closer to weapons-grade enrichment.
Iran has repeatedly denied pursuing nuclear weapons.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously stated that the conflict would not be considered over until Iran’s enriched uranium is removed, Tehran ends support for proxy groups, and its ballistic missile capabilities are dismantled.
One Iranian source said the directive reflected a broad consensus within the country’s leadership that enriched uranium should remain inside Iran due to security concerns.
According to the sources, Iranian officials fear that transferring the material abroad would leave the country more exposed to future attacks by the United States and Israel.
The White House responded by reiterating Trump’s position on the issue.
“President Trump has been clear about the United States’ red lines and will only make a deal that puts the American people first,” White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said.
Iran’s foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
Fragile ceasefire complicates negotiations
A fragile ceasefire remains in place following the conflict that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.
The fighting later expanded after Iran targeted Gulf states hosting US military bases, while clashes also erupted between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon.
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts mediated by Pakistan, negotiations have yet to achieve a major breakthrough.
The talks have also been complicated by a US blockade of Iranian ports and Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route.
The two Iranian sources said there was growing suspicion within Iran that the current pause in fighting could be a tactical move by Washington ahead of possible renewed airstrikes.
Iranian negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on Wednesday that both “obvious and hidden moves by the enemy” suggested the United States was preparing for new attacks.
Trump also warned that Washington was prepared to launch further strikes on Tehran if Iran refused to agree to a peace deal, although he indicated the US was willing to wait several days for negotiations to continue.
Iran seeks guarantees before nuclear negotiations
According to the sources, both sides have narrowed some differences in recent talks, but major disagreements remain over Iran’s nuclear programme, particularly the future of its enriched uranium stockpile and Tehran’s insistence on maintaining its right to uranium enrichment.
Iranian officials have repeatedly stressed that Tehran’s priority is securing a permanent end to the conflict and obtaining guarantees that the United States and Israel will not launch future attacks.
Only after such assurances are provided, the officials said, would Iran be prepared to enter detailed negotiations regarding its nuclear activities.
Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, although it has maintained a longstanding policy of neither confirming nor denying its atomic capabilities.
Before the war, Iran had reportedly indicated willingness to transfer half of its uranium enriched to 60% abroad. However, the sources said Tehran’s position changed following repeated threats from Trump to strike Iran.
One Iranian source said possible compromises still existed, including reducing the concentration of enriched uranium under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The IAEA estimates that Iran possessed 440.9kg of uranium enriched to 60% before the conflict escalated.
