Shafaq News- Washington (Updated at 17:04)

Iran remains firmly opposed to transferring its enriched uranium stockpile outside the country, a US official said on Thursday, underscoring a key deadlock in ongoing nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

Speaking to Fox News, the official said Iran was “determined” to keep enriched uranium inside its borders and described Tehran’s position in the nuclear talks as still “hardline.”

The official also denied reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had formally ordered the uranium stockpile to remain inside the country.

Earlier today, Reuters reported, citing two senior Iranian sources, that Khamenei had instructed Iranian authorities not to transfer the country’s highly enriched uranium abroad, rejecting one of Washington’s central demands in the negotiations.

According to the sources, senior Iranian officials believe moving the stockpile overseas would leave Iran “more vulnerable” to future attacks by the United States or Israel.

Israeli officials told Reuters that US President Donald Trump had assured Israel that any agreement with Tehran would require removing Iran’s highly enriched uranium from the country. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly insisted that any settlement must include the removal of enriched uranium, the dismantling of Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, and an end to Tehran’s support for allied armed groups across the region.

The United States, Israel, and Western governments accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, citing Tehran’s enrichment of uranium to 60% purity, a level close to weapons-grade material. Iran denies pursuing nuclear weapons and says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Tehran and Washington had postponed discussions over the uranium stockpile to later stages of negotiations, describing the issue as the main obstacle in the talks.

Araghchi also disclosed consultations with Russian officials over a proposal for Moscow to store Iranian enriched uranium, although similar ideas previously faced resistance from both Tehran and Washington.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said earlier on Thursday that Moscow was prepared to help implement any future arrangements involving Iranian enriched uranium.

“Only the Iranian people” have the right to determine the future of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, including uranium enrichment and the handling of nuclear material, Zakharova said.

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