Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, issues a directive that the country’s near-weapons-grade enriched uranium stockpile must not be sent abroad, Reuters reports citing two senior Iranian sources. The reported order hardens Tehran’s position on a key U.S. demand in ongoing talks tied to regional efforts to end the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, according to the sources. The outlets note the directive could complicate diplomacy involving U.S. President Donald Trump, and it may raise further difficulties for negotiations on the terms of any potential agreement.
Multiple reports say Israeli officials told Reuters that Trump assured Israel Iran’s highly enriched uranium would be exported and that any peace deal would need a clause addressing removal. The Iranian sources cited by Reuters say Tehran believes exporting the material would make Iran more vulnerable to future attacks by the United States and Israel.
Western states have long accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons and point to Iran enriching uranium to levels higher than those typically needed for civilian purposes. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons.
