Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has issued a directive that the country's near-weapons-grade uranium should not be sent abroad, according to two senior Iranian sources. This decision hardens Tehran's stance on one of the main U.S. demands at ongoing peace talks.
The order could further frustrate U.S. President Donald Trump and complicate negotiations aimed at ending the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Israeli officials have told Reuters that Trump assured them that Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, necessary for building an atomic weapon, would be removed from Iran as part of any peace deal.
Israel, the United States, and other Western nations have long accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, pointing to its enrichment of uranium to 60%, which is far above civilian use levels and close to the 90% needed for a weapon. Iran denies these allegations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the war will not be considered over until enriched uranium is removed from Iran, Tehran ends support for proxy militias, and its ballistic missile capabilities are eliminated.
“The Supreme Leader’s directive, and the consensus within the establishment, is that the stockpile of enriched uranium should not leave the country,” said one of the Iranian sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Iranian officials believe that sending the material abroad would leave the country more vulnerable to future attacks by the United States and Israel. Khamenei holds the final say on the most important state matters.
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said: “President Trump has been clear about the United States’ red lines and will only make a deal that puts the American people first.” Iran's foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
Deep Suspicion Among Top Iranian Officials
A shaky ceasefire is currently in place following the war that began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. In response, Iran fired at Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases, and fighting erupted between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. However, no significant breakthrough has been achieved in peace efforts. A U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and Tehran's control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil supply route, have complicated negotiations mediated by Pakistan.
The two senior Iranian sources expressed deep suspicion that the pause in hostilities is a tactical deception by Washington to create a false sense of security before renewing airstrikes. Iran's top peace negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, stated on Wednesday that “obvious and hidden moves by the enemy” indicate preparations for new attacks.
Trump said on Wednesday that the U.S. is ready to proceed with further attacks on Tehran if Iran does not agree to a peace deal, but suggested Washington could wait a few days to “get the right answers.” The two sides have begun to narrow some gaps, but deeper divisions remain over Tehran's nuclear program, including the fate of its enriched uranium stockpiles and Tehran's demand for recognition of its right to enrichment.
Iran Hardens Stance on Enriched Uranium Stockpile
Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that Tehran's priority is to secure a permanent end to the war and credible guarantees that the U.S. and Israel will not launch further attacks. Only after such assurances are in place, they said, would Iran be prepared to engage in detailed negotiations over its nuclear program.
Israel is widely believed to possess an atomic arsenal but has never confirmed or denied it, maintaining a policy of ambiguity for decades. Before the war, Iran signaled willingness to ship out half of its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60%. However, sources said that position changed after repeated threats from Trump to strike Iran.
Israeli officials have told Reuters it is still unclear whether Trump will decide to attack or give Israel a green light to resume operations. Tehran has vowed a crushing response if attacked. Nevertheless, the source indicated that there are “feasible formulas” to resolve the matter, such as “diluting the stockpile under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).”
The IAEA estimates that Iran had 440.9 kg of uranium enriched to 60% when Israel and the U.S. attacked Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025. How much of that has survived is unclear. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said in March that what remained of that stock was “mainly” stored in a tunnel complex at the Isfahan nuclear facility, with slightly more than 200 kg believed to be there. The IAEA also believes some is at the Natanz complex, where Iran had two enrichment plants.
Iran maintains that some highly enriched uranium is needed for medical purposes and for a research reactor in Tehran, which runs on relatively small amounts of uranium enriched to around 20%.
