Iran said it will not hand over its highly enriched uranium stockpile to any third country.
This refusal creates a significant diplomatic impasse between Tehran and Washington. The dispute centers on whether the transfer of nuclear materials is a prerequisite for the lifting of economic sanctions.
Senior Iranian officials said on May 24, 2026 [1], that the country has not agreed to transfer its uranium. A senior Iranian source told Reuters, "Iran has not agreed to hand over its highly enriched uranium stockpile" [1]. The Iranian government maintains that its stockpile is a sovereign asset and is not part of any preliminary agreement with the U.S. [1], [2].
These statements contradict reports from U.S. officials. On May 23, 2026 [3], U.S. officials told The New York Times that Iran had agreed to give up its enriched uranium as part of an initial agreement [3].
The U.S. Treasury Department has tied the removal of sanctions to the total removal of these materials. "We will not lift sanctions until Iran hands over all of its enriched uranium and commits not to pursue a nuclear weapon," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said [4].
Iranian nuclear negotiator Ebrahim Azizi said the stockpile will not be exported [5]. While some reports suggested the materials could be destroyed or handed over to the U.S. [4], Iranian officials continue to reject external transfer proposals [1], [2].
“"Iran has not agreed to hand over its highly enriched uranium stockpile,"”
The conflicting narratives between U.S. and Iranian officials indicate a breakdown in communication or a strategic disagreement over the definition of an 'initial agreement.' By labeling the uranium as a sovereign asset, Iran is signaling that it views its nuclear capabilities as a non-negotiable point of leverage, which may prolong the duration of U.S. sanctions.
