Iran insists enriched uranium remain inside

Iran’s leadership has drawn a new public red line in talks tied to the ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel: the enriched uranium stays in Iran. Reuters reported on May 21, citing two senior Iranian sources, that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei directed that Iran’s near-weapons-grade stockpile not be sent abroad. That position cuts directly against a main U.S. demand in the negotiations, according to the Reuters report. It also gives a clearer answer to a question that had been hanging over the talks after President Donald Trump said earlier this month that Washington wanted the material moved out of the country. ### What exactly did Iran say must stay? Reuters reported on May 21 that Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had ordered that Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium should not leave the country, citing two senior Iranian sources. One of those sources told Reuters that “the stockpile of enriched uranium should not leave the country,” describing it as a consensus position inside the Iranian establishment. (usnews.com) Al Jazeera reported on May 10 that Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei had already rejected Trump’s claim that the uranium could be transferred, saying enriched uranium was “as sacred to us as Iranian soil” and would not be moved “under any circumstances.” That statement matched the harder line Reuters later described from Iran’s top leadership. (usnews.com) ### Why is this such a central dispute in the talks? President Donald Trump said in a May 10 interview, as reported by Al Jazeera, that the United States wanted Iran’s highly enriched uranium removed and that Washington had the sites “surveilled.” Reuters reported on May 21 that Israeli officials had told the news agency Trump assured Israel any peace deal must include a clause sending the stockpile out of Iran. (aljazeera.com) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also tied the end of the war to that issue. Reuters reported that Netanyahu said he would not consider the war over until enriched uranium is removed from Iran, Tehran ends support for proxy militias and its ballistic missile capabilities are eliminated. (aljazeera.com) ### How much uranium are negotiators arguing over? The International Atomic Energy Agency estimated that Iran had 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% when Israeli and U.S. attacks hit Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, according to Reuters. The IAEA said in a June 2025 update that inspectors were prepared to verify inventories including “more than 400 kg” of uranium enriched to 60%. (usnews.com) The distinction matters because 60% enriched uranium is below weapons grade but far above the limits Iran accepted under the 2015 nuclear deal. Under that agreement, Al Jazeera noted, Iran had agreed to cap enrichment at 3.67% under international supervision. ### Why does Tehran say it will not give it up? Reuters reported that Iran’s senior officials believe sending the material abroad would leave the country more vulnerable to future U.S. and Israeli attacks. (usnews.com) The same report said there was deep suspicion in Tehran that the ceasefire could be used to create a false sense of security before new strikes. (aljazeera.com) Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, identified by Reuters as Iran’s top peace negotiator, said on Wednesday that “obvious and hidden moves by the enemy” showed the Americans were preparing new attacks. Reuters also said the White House and Iran’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. (usnews.com) ### How does this fit with the broader nuclear file? The U.S. State Department said on Jan. 27 that six U.N. Security Council resolutions on Iran had been reimposed on Sept. 27, 2025, following what it called Iran’s “significant non-performance” of its nuclear commitments. The department said those restored resolutions require Iran to suspend uranium-enrichment-related activities. (usnews.com) That means the current dispute is not only about where the stockpile sits physically. It is also tied to a wider standoff over whether Iran can retain any domestic enrichment capability at all, a point Tehran has continued to defend publicly while Washington presses for tighter restrictions. That is an inference drawn from the Reuters, State Department and Al Jazeera reports. (state.gov) ### What should readers watch next? The immediate next step is whether the White House, Iran’s foreign ministry or the IAEA publicly address Reuters’ May 21 report. Reuters said ceasefire negotiations are continuing and described the uranium issue as one of the main U.S. demands in those talks. (usnews.com) Any new statement from Trump, Khamenei, Netanyahu, Baghaei or the IAEA would show whether this remains a negotiating position or becomes a formal condition that blocks a broader deal. (usnews.com)