Supreme Leader says enriched uranium must stay in Iran, Iranian sources say

Iran’s Supreme Leader issued a directive that near-weapons-grade uranium should not be exported, according to two senior Iranian sources. The order strengthens Tehran’s stance on a key U.S. demand during peace talks. The directive could frustrate U.S. President Donald Trump and complicate efforts to end the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Trump said the United States would not allow Iran to retain its highly enriched uranium stockpile. Western states accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, citing enrichment to 60%, while Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons. Iran’s top peace negotiator said Americans were preparing new attacks, and Iran wants a permanent end to the war and credible guarantees before engaging in detailed nuclear negotiations.

"Iran's Supreme Leader has issued a directive that the country's near-weapons-grade uranium should not be sent abroad, two senior Iranian sources said, hardening Tehran's stance on one of the main U.S. demands at peace talks. Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei's order could further frustrate U.S. President Donald Trump and complicate talks on ending the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran."

""We will get it. We don't need it, we don't want it. We'll probably destroy it after we get it, but we're not going to let them have it," Trump told reporters at the White House. Israel, the United States and other Western states have long accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, including pointing to its move to enrich uranium to 60%, far higher than needed for civilian uses and closer to the 90% needed for a weapon. Ir an denies seeking nuclear weapons."

""The Supreme Leader's directive, and the consensus within the establishment, is that the stockpile of enriched uranium should not leave the country," said one of the two Iranian sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. Iran's foreign ministry did not respond to request for comment."

"Iran's top peace negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, said on Wednesday that "obvious and hidden moves by the enemy" showed the Americans were preparing new attacks. Iranian officials have repeatedly said Tehran's priority is to secure a permanent end to the war and credible guarantees that the U.S. and Israel will not launch further attacks. Only after such assurances are in place, they said, would Iran be prepared to engage in detailed negotiations over its nuclear program."

Read at Irish Independent