By Elsie Kamsiyochi
Tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme have intensified after senior Iranian officials revealed that the country’s Supreme Leader has ordered that Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium must remain within its borders.
The move marks a significant hardening of Tehran’s position during ongoing peace negotiations with the United States and could complicate efforts to end months of military conflict in the Middle East.
According to two senior Iranian sources, Supreme Leader has issued a firm directive rejecting one of Washington’s key demands — the removal of Iran’s near-weapons-grade uranium from the country. The decision is expected to frustrate U.S. President , whose administration has reportedly insisted that any peace agreement must include provisions requiring Tehran to surrender or export its uranium stockpile.
The disagreement comes at a delicate moment, as diplomatic talks aimed at ending the prolonged U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran remain fragile. American and Israeli officials have repeatedly argued that Iran’s enriched uranium reserves represent a major security threat, saying the material could potentially be used to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran, however, continues to deny accusations that it seeks nuclear arms, insisting its nuclear activities are intended for peaceful and civilian purposes.
Israeli officials familiar with negotiations reportedly told Reuters that Trump had assured Israel that Iran’s highly enriched uranium would eventually be transferred abroad under any final peace settlement. Israeli Prime Minister has consistently maintained that the conflict cannot truly end unless Iran gives up its uranium stockpile, halts support for regional proxy militias, and abandons its ballistic missile programme.
However, Iran appears unwilling to compromise on what it sees as a strategic national safeguard.
One Iranian source said there is broad agreement among the country’s leadership that allowing enriched uranium to leave Iran would leave the nation vulnerable to future military attacks. Officials reportedly fear that once such material is removed, Iran would lose leverage and become exposed to renewed strikes by either the United States or Israel.
“The Supreme Leader’s directive, and the consensus within the establishment, is that the stockpile of enriched uranium should not leave the country,” one source reportedly said, emphasizing that the matter has become a core national security issue.
The White House responded cautiously to the reports. A spokesperson reiterated that President Trump has been clear about America’s “red lines” and emphasized that any deal with Iran would have to prioritize U.S. security interests. Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry declined to publicly comment on the matter.
The dispute unfolds against the backdrop of an uneasy ceasefire following months of military escalation. The war began after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeted Iranian facilities in February, triggering retaliatory attacks from Iran on Gulf states hosting American military bases and renewed fighting involving Iran-backed groups in the region, particularly in Lebanon.
Although a ceasefire currently holds, negotiations have struggled to produce any major breakthrough. Diplomatic efforts have been complicated by U.S. economic pressure, including restrictions affecting Iranian ports, as well as Tehran’s strategic control over the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most important oil transit routes.
Iranian officials reportedly remain deeply suspicious of Washington’s intentions. According to sources, many in Tehran believe the temporary pause in fighting may simply be a tactical move designed to create a false sense of calm before another round of airstrikes. Those concerns have hardened Iran’s negotiating position, making concessions on nuclear issues increasingly difficult.
Iranian negotiator recently suggested that both visible and hidden signs indicate the United States could be preparing for further military action. At the same time, Trump warned that Washington remained prepared to strike Tehran again if peace talks collapsed, though he indicated the U.S. was willing to allow negotiations more time.
Despite the tensions, sources say some progress has been made in narrowing disagreements. Yet major divisions remain over Iran’s nuclear programme, especially regarding the fate of enriched uranium and Tehran’s insistence on maintaining its right to uranium enrichment.
Before the outbreak of war, Iran had reportedly shown some willingness to send part of its uranium stockpile abroad. Officials were said to have considered exporting roughly half of the uranium enriched to 60% purity — far beyond levels needed for civilian energy but still below weapons-grade enrichment. That position reportedly changed after repeated threats of military action from Trump.
Still, Iranian insiders suggest there may be room for compromise. Rather than exporting the material, Tehran could consider reducing or “diluting” the uranium stockpile under the supervision of the , commonly known as the IAEA.
According to the agency, Iran possessed approximately 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% before U.S. and Israeli strikes damaged several nuclear sites in 2025. The exact amount still intact remains uncertain, though inspectors believe a significant portion remains stored at facilities in Isfahan and Natanz.
Iran argues that some highly enriched uranium is necessary for peaceful purposes, including medical research and fueling a research reactor in Tehran. Western governments remain unconvinced, arguing that enrichment levels approaching weapons-grade raise serious international security concerns.
As negotiations continue, the future of Iran’s uranium stockpile may emerge as the single biggest obstacle to any lasting peace agreement. With mistrust running deep on all sides, diplomats face an increasingly difficult challenge in balancing security concerns with political realities.
Source Reuters