Iran’s leadership has ordered that the country’s stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium remain inside the country, according to two senior Iranian officials, signaling a sharp escalation in Tehran’s position during ongoing negotiations with the United States and threatening to derail already fragile peace efforts.

The directive, issued by Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, directly clashes with one of President Donald Trump’s central demands in talks aimed at ending the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Israeli officials told Reuters that Trump had assured Israel that any eventual agreement would require Iran’s highly enriched uranium — material that could potentially be used in a nuclear weapon — to be removed from Iranian territory.

For years, Israel, the United States, and Western governments have accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons capabilities, citing Tehran’s decision to enrich uranium to 60%, a level far beyond civilian energy needs and much closer to the 90% enrichment required for a nuclear bomb. Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear arms.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that Israel will not view the conflict as concluded unless Iran’s enriched uranium is removed, its ballistic missile program dismantled, and its backing of regional proxy groups brought to an end.

“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 two ⁠Iranian sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The sources said Iran’s leadership believes surrendering the uranium stockpile would leave the country exposed to future military action by the United States and Israel. Under Iran’s political system, Khamenei holds ultimate authority over major national decisions.

Asked about the developments, 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.”

A fragile ceasefire remains in effect following the conflict that erupted after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Iran later retaliated by targeting Gulf nations hosting American military bases, while clashes also intensified between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon.

Despite the temporary halt in major fighting, negotiations have stalled amid continued tensions. A U.S. blockade affecting Iranian ports and Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes — have complicated mediation efforts being led by Pakistan.

According to the Iranian sources, many in Tehran suspect the current lull in fighting is merely a tactical move by Washington designed to lull Iran into a false sense of security before launching another round of airstrikes.

Iran’s lead negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, warned Wednesday that “obvious and hidden moves by the enemy” indicated the United States was preparing additional attacks.

Trump said Wednesday that the United States remained prepared to strike Tehran again if Iran refused to reach a deal, though he added Washington might wait several more days in hopes of receiving “get the right answers.”

The Iranian officials said some progress has been made in narrowing disagreements, but major disputes remain unresolved over Iran’s nuclear activities — particularly the future of its enriched uranium reserves and Tehran’s insistence that its right to uranium enrichment be formally recognized.

Iranian leaders continue to insist that their top priority is securing a lasting end to the war and obtaining firm guarantees that neither the United States nor Israel will carry out future military attacks.

Only after such guarantees are secured, Iranian officials say, would Tehran be willing to enter comprehensive negotiations regarding its nuclear program.

Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, though the country has never officially confirmed or denied having an atomic arsenal, maintaining its longstanding policy of ambiguity.

Before the war broke out, Iran had indicated it might be willing to export roughly half of its uranium enriched to 60%, which significantly exceeds civilian requirements.

However, the Iranian sources said Tehran’s position hardened after repeated threats by Trump to launch military strikes against the country.

Israeli officials told Reuters there remains uncertainty over whether Trump ultimately intends to authorize additional attacks and whether he would permit Israel to resume military operations. Iran has warned it would respond forcefully to any renewed assault.

Still, one Iranian official suggested there may be room for compromise.

“There are solutions like diluting the stockpile under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency,” one of the Iranian sources said.

The International Atomic Energy Agency estimates Iran possessed approximately 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% at the time Israeli and American forces struck Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025. The current status of that material remains uncertain.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said in March that much of the remaining stockpile was believed to be stored in underground tunnels at Iran’s Isfahan nuclear facility, with slightly more than 200 kilograms thought to be located there. The agency also believes additional material remains at the massive Natanz nuclear complex, home to two uranium enrichment facilities.

Iran maintains that some highly enriched uranium is necessary for medical applications and for operating a Tehran-based research reactor that uses relatively small amounts of uranium enriched to approximately 20%.

{Matzav.com}