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Tehran: Amidst the heated standoff with the United States regarding uranium, Iran has taken a major decision. According to two senior Iranian officials, the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has issued a directive stating that Iran's stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium will not be shipped abroad. This move has further hardened Tehran's stance on a key demand made by the United States. This decision is being viewed as a major setback for US President Donald Trump. The ongoing peace negotiations involving Israel could now become even more complicated.
According to a Reuters report, Israeli officials stated that Trump had assured Israel that Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium would be shipped out of the country and that this would be made a mandatory condition in any peace agreement. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the Iranian sources revealed that the Supreme Leader's directive reflects a consensus within the inner circles of power that the enriched uranium must not leave the country. Officials believe that doing so would leave Iran even more vulnerable to future attacks by the United States and Israel.
On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has clearly stated that the war will not be considered over until the enriched uranium is removed from Iran, its support for proxy militias ceases, and its ballistic missile capabilities are dismantled.
A fragile ceasefire has been in effect following the outbreak of hostilities on February 28, triggered by attacks involving the U.S. and Israel. During this period, Iran fired upon U.S. bases in the Gulf states, and fighting intensified with Hezbollah in Lebanon. However, peace efforts have so far proven unsuccessful. Iranian sources indicated that Tehran suspects the ceasefire is merely a strategic ruse by Washington to prepare for fresh attacks. Iran's chief peace negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, stated on Wednesday that the enemy's activities suggest preparations for new assaults.
On Wednesday, Trump stated that if Iran does not agree to a peace settlement, the United States is prepared to launch new attacks; however, he also signaled a willingness to wait for a few days. While both sides have begun to reach agreements on certain issues, deep differences persist regarding the nuclear program—particularly concerning the future of enriched uranium and the right to enrichment.
Iranian officials have repeatedly asserted that their priority is a permanent resolution to the conflict and a credible guarantee that no attacks will be launched by the U.S. or Israel. Only after securing this will they be willing to engage in detailed negotiations regarding their nuclear program. Iran has long denied any intention of developing a nuclear bomb. Prior to the conflict, Iran had agreed to ship out half of its stockpile of 60% enriched uranium; however, this stance shifted following Trump's persistent threats—a shift whose consequences are now evident to all.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), at the time of the attacks in June 2025, Iran possessed 440.9 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium. The remaining stockpile following the attacks is currently secured primarily within the nuclear facilities at Isfahan and Natanz. Conversely, Iran maintains that it requires a limited quantity of highly enriched uranium for use in medical and research reactors.
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