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Mojtaba Khamenei rejects key US demand amid ceasefire talks (Img: Internet)
Tehran: Iran’s leadership has reportedly rejected a key American demand during ongoing ceasefire negotiations, insisting that the country’s stockpile of enriched uranium must remain inside Iran. According to reports citing senior Iranian sources, the directive came from Mojtaba Khamenei amid sensitive talks involving the United States and Israel.
The development is being viewed as a major obstacle in efforts to secure a long-term peace arrangement following months of military escalation in the region.
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The United States and Israel have reportedly pushed for Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile to be removed from the country as part of any future agreement. Israeli officials believe such a condition is essential to preventing Iran from rapidly advancing toward nuclear weapons capability.
Iran, however, has maintained that retaining the uranium stockpile is necessary for national security and sovereignty. Iranian officials reportedly fear that transferring the material abroad would leave the country vulnerable to future military action.
Western countries have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons capability after Tehran enriched uranium to levels close to weapons-grade purity. Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons and says its nuclear programme is intended for peaceful and medical purposes.
A fragile ceasefire currently remains in place after the conflict escalated earlier this year following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. The confrontation widened as Iran responded by targeting Gulf nations hosting American military facilities, while clashes intensified between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Despite mediation efforts led by regional players, negotiations have reportedly made limited progress due to disagreements over Iran’s nuclear programme and broader security guarantees.
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US President Donald Trump has warned that Washington could launch additional strikes if Iran refuses to agree to a peace deal. At the same time, American officials have indicated they are willing to continue diplomatic engagement for the moment.
Iranian negotiators have repeatedly said their priority is obtaining firm guarantees that future attacks by the US or Israel will not occur before entering deeper nuclear discussions.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran previously possessed hundreds of kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity. Reports suggest much of the stockpile may still be stored at nuclear facilities in Isfahan and Natanz, though the current status remains unclear.
