Iran Refuses to Hand Over Highly Enriched Uranium Stockpile, Reuters Source Says

Iran has not agreed to transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium as part of ongoing negotiations with the United States, a senior Iranian source told Reuters on Sunday, signaling a major unresolved issue in the diplomatic process.

The source clarified that Iran’s nuclear programme is not included in the current preliminary understanding being discussed between both sides. Instead, the issue will be addressed in later stages of negotiations aimed at reaching a final and comprehensive agreement.

According to the Iranian official, no agreement has been reached on removing or shipping Iran’s enriched uranium outside the country, contradicting reports suggesting progress on one of the most sensitive aspects of the talks.

The development comes amid broader efforts to establish a framework deal between Washington and Tehran that could include steps such as easing regional tensions and discussions around sanctions relief. However, the status of Iran’s nuclear material remains one of the most contentious points in the negotiations.

Recent reports indicate that while there may be progress on broader diplomatic arrangements, key issues; including uranium enrichment levels and the fate of existing stockpiles, remain unresolved and are expected to be pushed into future rounds of talks.

The United States and Iran have both signaled cautious optimism in recent weeks, but disagreements over nuclear commitments continue to stall a final agreement.

For now, Tehran maintains its position that the enriched uranium stockpile will remain under Iranian control until further negotiations are concluded, keeping one of the most critical obstacles in the talks firmly in place.