Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has reportedly ordered that the country’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium must remain inside Iran, hardening Tehran’s position during ongoing negotiations with the United States and Israel. The development is expected to further complicate fragile peace discussions following months of regional tensions and military escalation.
According to senior Iranian sources quoted by Reuters, the directive directly rejects a major demand from Washington, which has insisted that Iran transfer its near-weapons-grade uranium out of the country as part of any long-term agreement. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that the United States will not allow Iran to retain the material, which Western nations believe could potentially be used for nuclear weapons development.
Tehran Hardens Nuclear Position
Iranian officials reportedly believe that sending enriched uranium abroad would leave the country strategically vulnerable to future attacks from the United States or Israel. The decision reflects growing distrust within Iran’s leadership despite ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that any future peace agreement must include the removal of Iran’s uranium stockpile, along with restrictions on Tehran’s ballistic missile program and regional proxy networks. Israeli officials have also indicated that Washington previously assured Israel that Iran’s enriched uranium would eventually be removed from Iranian territory.
Global Concerns Over Nuclear Talks
The issue has become one of the biggest obstacles in ongoing negotiations involving Iran, the United States and regional mediators. International Atomic Energy Agency estimates suggest Iran possesses hundreds of kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, a level considered close to weapons-grade capability if further refined.
Global markets have also reacted nervously to the latest developments. Oil prices briefly surged following reports of Iran’s tougher stance, amid fears that prolonged instability in the Middle East could disrupt energy supplies and maritime trade routes around the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite continued diplomatic engagement, major differences remain unresolved, raising concerns that the nuclear dispute could trigger another phase of geopolitical confrontation in the region.
