Iran has hardened its position in ongoing peace negotiations with the United States after the country’s Supreme Leader reportedly ordered that its near-weapons-grade uranium must remain inside Iran.
According to two senior Iranian officials, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei directed that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile should not be transferred abroad under any future agreement. The decision directly challenges a major U.S. and Israeli demand in negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.
Western governments have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons capability because of its uranium enrichment activities. Iran insists its nuclear programme is strictly for peaceful and civilian purposes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that Israel will not consider the conflict resolved unless Iran removes its enriched uranium stockpile, ends support for proxy armed groups, and dismantles parts of its missile programme.
Iranian officials argue that shipping uranium abroad would expose the country to future military pressure or attacks from the U.S. and Israel. The sources also revealed deep mistrust within Iran’s leadership, with fears that the current pause in fighting could be temporary before further strikes resume.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned this week that Washington remains prepared for additional military action if negotiations fail, although he indicated there is still room for diplomacy.
Despite ongoing tensions, both sides are reportedly exploring possible compromises. One proposal under discussion involves diluting Iran’s enriched uranium under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency instead of removing it from the country.
The IAEA previously estimated that Iran possessed more than 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% before recent attacks on its nuclear facilities. Analysts say that level of enrichment is far above civilian requirements and much closer to weapons-grade material.
Iran maintains that some highly enriched uranium is necessary for medical research and operations at its Tehran research reactor.
