An unnamed senior Iranian source said Sunday that Tehran did not agree to deliver its stock of highly enriched uranium to the United States [1].
This denial comes amid ongoing tensions regarding the scope of diplomatic negotiations between the two nations. The outcome of these talks determines whether the U.S. will lift sanctions in exchange for limits on Iran's nuclear capabilities.
The source said that the nuclear file is not part of the preliminary agreement reached with the U.S. [1]. Because the nuclear issue was excluded from these initial terms, the source said no agreement was made to transfer the enriched uranium [1].
Tehran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. However, the presence of highly enriched uranium remains a primary point of contention for international monitors and Western governments, who argue such materials could be used to develop weapons.
"Tehran did not agree to deliver its stock of highly enriched uranium," the senior source said [1].
The statement suggests a gap between the expectations of U.S. negotiators and the current position of the Iranian government. By explicitly separating the nuclear file from the preliminary deal, Iran appears to be limiting the concessions it is willing to make in the immediate term.
“"Tehran did not agree to deliver its stock of highly enriched uranium,"”
This development indicates that the preliminary agreement between the U.S. and Iran is narrower in scope than some observers expected. By excluding the nuclear file, Iran retains its most significant leverage—the highly enriched uranium—while potentially seeking relief on other diplomatic or economic fronts. This separation of issues may prolong the overall timeline for a comprehensive nuclear deal.
