Iran’s Agreement to Hand Over Enriched Uranium
Iran has reportedly agreed in principle to transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium as part of a new deal brokered by the United States, according to President Donald Trump. He mentioned that the agreement, which is still under negotiation, could be announced as soon as Sunday.
A late-night report indicated that U.S. officials shared that Tehran is generally committed to relinquishing its near-weapons-grade uranium stockpile. This has been a central demand of the Trump administration’s campaign against Iran, which is seen as a notable shift considering that Iranian officials had previously sought to separate the uranium discussion from the ceasefire framework and delay it until future talks.
The specific details regarding how the uranium will be removed, neutralized, and transferred will be hashed out in upcoming nuclear negotiations, which are expected to occur within a proposed 30- to 60-day timeframe linked to a broader accord.
This reported concession may signal a significant reversal for the Iranian regime, especially after a previous announcement from Iranian intelligence that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had ordered the nation’s uranium stockpiles to remain within Iran, intensifying Iran’s public stance against one of Washington’s key demands.
The Trump administration has consistently insisted that Iran must eventually give up both its enrichment capabilities and existing stockpiles before a lasting deal is reached.
Initially, sources indicated that Iran was hesitant to include the uranium issue in the first phase of the negotiations, preferring to defer it to later discussions. However, U.S. negotiators warned Iran through an intermediary that they would withdraw from talks and resume military operations if there wasn’t some upfront commitment regarding uranium stockpiles.
Moreover, it has been reported that U.S. military planners have explored options for a potential second strike aimed at Iran’s uranium stockpile, particularly at the Isfahan nuclear facility. Discussions included a bunker-busting strike to destroy underground storage, and at one point, President Trump contemplated a joint U.S.-Israeli raid to recover the materials after parts of the storage became accessible following an earlier attack.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran possesses about 970 pounds of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, which is just short of weapons-grade enrichment.
President Trump stated that the deal with Iran and several regional countries is mostly negotiated, with “final aspects and details” still being worked out, and an announcement forthcoming.
In addition to other provisions, Trump mentioned that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened. His announcement followed early signals from Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding progress in negotiations, noting that the administration might soon share more about the talks.
Various reports throughout Saturday suggested that the new framework might entail a temporary 30- to 60-day memorandum aimed at conclusively ending hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, easing some aspects of the U.S. blockade on Iranian shipping, and setting a stage for further discussions on Iran’s nuclear program.
Late on Saturday, it was reported that this draft framework includes Iran’s commitment not to pursue nuclear weapons, to negotiate limits on uranium enrichment, and to address the removal of its highly enriched uranium stockpile during the interim agreement. The proposed deal also involves limited sanctions waivers to enable Iran to resume oil exports, while linking broader sanctions relief to future verified nuclear interests.
During negotiations on Saturday, President Trump engaged in discussions with key regional leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, among others, who encouraged him to proceed with the deal. Pakistan emerged as a crucial mediator, with its military chief conducting talks in Tehran over the weekend.
The emerging deal has raised skepticism among some Republican national security conservatives, especially concerning reports suggesting key nuclear and ballistic missile issues could be postponed to later talks. Senator Lindsey Graham voiced concerns, while others echoed worries that allowing Iran to maintain regional influence would pose risks to Israel.
Contrarily, some Republicans supported Trump’s diplomatic efforts. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson remarked that Trump is “the only person” capable of bringing Iran to the negotiating table. Similarly, Senator Eric Schmidt characterized the negotiations as “very important progress” towards lasting peace in the area.
Iran has not yet publicly confirmed its agreement to surrender its highly enriched uranium stockpile. Meanwhile, Iranian state media have not fully aligned with Trump’s characterization of the deal, mainly regarding the future of the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that the waterway will remain under Iranian control.
Additionally, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized continued support for Hezbollah, stating that Lebanon needs to be part of a broader ceasefire framework, likely amplifying Israeli concerns about the new agreement.
Nonetheless, various U.S., regional, Israeli, and Iranian negotiators suggested that a framework agreement could be finalized soon, though all parties acknowledged that the negotiations are fluid and might break down before reaching a final consensus.
