By Gloria Ogbonna
President Donald Trump announced Monday that Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium would either be handed over to the United States for destruction or eliminated under international supervision inside Iran or another approved location.
In a lengthy post shared on his Truth Social platform, Trump outlined what he described as a critical condition in the ongoing negotiations involving Iran’s nuclear program. According to the president, the enriched uranium — which he referred to as “nuclear dust” — would not remain under Iranian control.
“The Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Dust!) will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, in conjunction and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place or, at another acceptable location, with the Atomic Energy Commission, or its equivalent, being witness to this process and event,” Trump wrote.
The statement marks one of the clearest indications yet of how the administration intends to handle one of the most sensitive and controversial issues in negotiations with Tehran. Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile has long been viewed by the United States and its allies as a major concern because highly enriched uranium can potentially be used in the development of nuclear weapons.
Trump’s comments come amid reports suggesting there may have been progress in talks between U.S. officials and Iran regarding the future of the uranium stockpile.
Over the weekend, a report from The New York Times cited two unnamed U.S. officials who claimed Iran had broadly agreed to surrender its near-weapons-grade uranium reserves. According to the report, the issue had become one of the Trump administration’s central demands during negotiations with the Iranian government.
The report described the development as a potentially major breakthrough after months of disagreements over how and when the uranium issue should be addressed. Iranian officials had reportedly attempted to separate the uranium stockpile question from the initial ceasefire discussions and postpone it for future negotiations.
The possible agreement would represent a significant shift in Iran’s position, especially given previous public statements from Iranian leadership opposing the removal of enriched uranium from the country.
Just days earlier, Reuters reported that two senior Iranian sources said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had insisted Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile should remain inside the country.
“The Supreme Leader’s directive, and the consensus within the establishment, is that the stockpile of enriched uranium should not leave the country,” one Iranian source reportedly told Reuters.
The conflicting reports highlight the uncertainty and complexity surrounding the ongoing negotiations, as officials on both sides continue to debate how Iran’s nuclear materials should be handled and monitored.
The issue of enriched uranium has remained one of the most contentious aspects of international diplomacy with Iran for years. Western nations, particularly the United States and Israel, have repeatedly warned that Iran’s growing uranium reserves could shorten the timeline needed to develop a nuclear weapon if Tehran chose to do so. Iranian officials, however, have consistently maintained that their nuclear program is intended for peaceful energy and civilian purposes.
Trump’s latest remarks also come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following recent military operations involving Iran, Israel, and U.S. forces in the region. The administration has repeatedly stated that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains a top national security priority.
While no final agreement has officially been announced, Trump’s comments suggest negotiations are entering a critical phase, with the handling of Iran’s uranium stockpile emerging as one of the defining issues that could determine whether a broader deal is ultimately reached.
Source Breitbart
Original article
Comments