Iran’s deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Tehran agreed to hand over its enriched uranium stockpile to end the ongoing conflict. Speaking to the Associated Press, he called such a proposal completely unacceptable. The issue has become central to ongoing discussions between the two sides as they explore possible peace negotiations.
According to U.S. officials, Iran currently holds about 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent, 1,000 kilograms enriched to 20 percent, and 8,500 kilograms enriched to 3.6 percent. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has stated that if further enriched, this material could be sufficient for up to ten nuclear bombs. However, the agency also confirmed it has found no evidence of an active weapons program. Iran maintains that its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful.
Experts note that while Iran possesses the technical capacity to reach weapons-grade enrichment, developing a functional nuclear weapon would require additional complex steps such as warhead design and delivery systems, which remain unverified.