Iran denies agreeing uranium handover

A senior Iranian official said on Sunday that Tehran had not agreed to hand over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the United States or send it out of the country, pushing back on reports that such a step was part of an emerging U.S.-Iran understanding. The denial came after President Donald Trump said on May 23 that a memorandum of understanding on a peace deal with Iran had been “largely negotiated,” without publicly detailing any nuclear provisions. Iranian and U.S. officials have both described progress in talks, but key terms remain disputed. No public U.S. government document or International Atomic Energy Agency statement on Sunday confirmed any uranium-transfer arrangement. ### Where did the uranium handover claim come from? The New York Times reported on May 24 that the proposed deal included an “apparent commitment” by Iran to give up its highly enriched uranium, with details to be left to later talks, according to two unidentified U.S. officials cited by other outlets summarizing the report. The Telegraph also reported that Iran had agreed to surrender its stockpile, citing U.S. sources. On X, the account TheCryptoJonny circulated the denial as breaking news later on May 24. (yahoo.com) Sunday’s clearer on-record formulation came through Reuters, which reported that a senior Iranian official said Tehran had not agreed to transfer the stockpile overseas. The official said the nuclear file was not part of the preliminary understanding now under discussion with Washington. ### What exactly did the Iranian side deny? The senior Iranian official told Reuters that “the nuclear issue will be addressed in negotiations for a final agreement” and was therefore not part of the current deal, according to reports carrying the Reuters dispatch. (straitstimes.com) The same official said there had been “no agreement” for Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile to be shipped out of the country. (yahoo.com) Iran’s state-linked Fars news agency separately disputed another part of Trump’s account, saying his description of reopening the Strait of Hormuz was “inconsistent with reality.” Channel NewsAsia, citing Reuters, reported that the latest exchanged text would leave the strait under Iran’s management. ### How does this fit into the wider U.S.-Iran negotiation? (tbsnews.net) Trump said on May 23 that the deal was “largely negotiated” and that final details would be announced shortly. Reuters reported that the proposed framework under discussion would unfold in three stages: formally ending the war, addressing the Strait of Hormuz crisis and opening a 30-day negotiating window for a broader agreement that could be extended. (channelnewsasia.com) Pakistan has been acting as a mediator. Reuters reported that Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met Pakistan army chief Asim Munir in Tehran, and Pakistan’s military described the latest progress as “encouraging.” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said there were still issues to be discussed through mediators over the next “three or four days.” (business-standard.com) ### Why is the uranium stockpile such a central point? The IAEA said in a May 31, 2025 report that Iran’s total enriched uranium stockpile was estimated at 9,247.6 kg as of May 17, 2025. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said later that the agency needed to verify inventories including more than 400 kg of uranium enriched to 60% purity. The United States has repeatedly tied any durable settlement to constraints on Iran’s nuclear program. (channelnewsasia.com) CNBC, citing Reuters, reported that Trump’s public statement on the emerging deal did not mention any agreement on Iran’s nuclear program or its highly enriched uranium, even though his administration had described both as central issues. ### Has any independent body confirmed a transfer plan? (iaea.org) The IAEA had not publicly confirmed any arrangement on May 24 for Iran to transfer enriched uranium out of the country. The agency’s public Iran materials describe its role as verification and monitoring under safeguards and related reporting to its Board of Governors and the U.N. Security Council. Any eventual transfer, dilution or sequestration arrangement would likely require IAEA access and verification. (cnbc.com) The agency said after the 2025 conflict that its inspectors were ready to return to Iranian sites and verify nuclear-material inventories, including more than 400 kg enriched to 60%. Sunday’s next marker is diplomatic rather than technical. Reuters reported that one Pakistani source involved in the talks said further negotiations could take place after the Eid holiday ends on Friday, while any broader nuclear terms would be left for subsequent talks. (iaea.org) (business-standard.com) (iaea.org)