TEHRAN: Iran has firmly dismissed any possibility of transferring enriched nuclear material to the United States, with a senior official calling the idea unacceptable and outside the scope of negotiations.
Speaking to the Associated Press, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh categorically denied the claim, stating that no enriched uranium would be handed over under any circumstances.
“I can assure you that no enriched material will be sent to the United States. This is not even up for discussion,” he said, describing the notion as a “non-starter.”
His remarks come in response to recent comments by Donald Trump, who suggested that Washington could retrieve Iran’s nuclear material—an assertion widely interpreted as referring to Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Talks Stalled Over ‘Maximalist’ Demands
Khatibzadeh also pointed to ongoing disagreements as a key reason for the delay in further negotiations between the two countries. He said the United States has yet to scale back what he described as “maximalist demands,” preventing progress toward a new round of talks.
The latest high-level discussions held in Islamabad earlier this month ended without a breakthrough, and no fresh meeting has been scheduled so far.
According to the Iranian official, Tehran is pushing for a clear “framework agreement” to be finalised before entering into substantive negotiations, indicating a cautious approach to future dialogue.
Background of Ceasefire Efforts
Earlier in April, President Trump had announced a temporary pause in hostilities, describing a proposed 10-point ceasefire plan put forward by Iran as a workable foundation for negotiations.
Despite that, differences over nuclear policy and broader strategic issues continue to hinder diplomatic progress, leaving uncertainty over the next phase of US-Iran engagement.
