Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghi denied President Donald Trump's claim that Tehran would transfer enriched uranium to the United States. The statement came amid heightened tensions over nuclear policy and sanctions.
The denial matters because it challenges a narrative that could justify tighter U.S. pressure on Iran's nuclear program and influences diplomatic calculations in the region. At the same time, the United States announced an extension of a waiver that lets allied nations continue purchasing Russian oil and petroleum products for roughly another month, a relief for energy‑dependent economies but one that explicitly excludes Iran.
Baghi said, "Enriched uranium is as sacred as Iranian soil and will not be transferred under any circumstances." The remark underscores Iran's longstanding stance that its nuclear material is a matter of national pride and security, not a bargaining chip for foreign powers.
The U.S. waiver, which was first introduced after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, allows countries to sidestep sanctions on Russian energy until the end of the extension period. The Department of the Treasury said the exemption will run for approximately one month [1], after which the standard sanctions regime will resume for all participants, including Iran.
By keeping Iran out of the waiver, Washington signals that any cooperation on energy trade will not be offered without addressing its concerns over Tehran's nuclear activities. Iran has repeatedly warned that any attempt to acquire or move enriched uranium would be viewed as a violation of its sovereignty and could trigger a retaliatory response.
Analysts said the overlapping issues of nuclear diplomacy and energy sanctions create a complex diplomatic landscape. While the waiver provides short‑term stability for global oil markets, Iran’s firm refusal to discuss uranium transfers suggests that negotiations on its nuclear program will remain stalled until broader geopolitical conditions shift.
“Enriched uranium is as sacred as Iranian soil and will not be transferred under any circumstances.”
Baghi's rejection of the Trump claim reaffirms Iran's hardline position on its nuclear material, limiting any diplomatic leverage the United States might gain from the alleged offer. Meanwhile, the short‑term oil waiver eases global market pressures without altering the sanctions framework that isolates Iran, meaning Tehran's nuclear negotiations are likely to remain static in the near term.
