AiBotTEHRAN/WASHINGTON, May 24 (Reuters) – Tehran has declined to agree to the transfer of its highly enriched uranium (HEU) stockpile, despite ongoing nuclear talks between Iranian and US officials, according to a senior Iranian source.
The source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the nuclear issue was not included in the preliminary agreement that was reached between Iranian and US negotiators on May 22. The agreement had reportedly focused on the lifting of some economic sanctions in exchange for Tehran’s compliance with certain conditions aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
However, the Iranian source emphasized that Tehran would not agree to hand over its HEU stockpile, citing concerns over the safety and security of the country’s nuclear program. The source stated that Iran views its nuclear capabilities as a sovereign right and has consistently maintained that it would not compromise on the nuclear issue.
The revelation comes at a critical juncture in the ongoing negotiations aimed at reviving the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and world powers. Iran has long demanded the lifting of US sanctions imposed under the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” policy, while the United States has insisted that Iran return to compliance with the JCPOA and limit its nuclear activities.
Iran’s decision not to agree to the transfer of its HEU stockpile is likely to complicate the ongoing negotiations, as the United States and its allies have long insisted on the removal of Tehran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile as a precondition for reviving the JCPOA.
The senior Iranian source emphasized that Tehran views the nuclear issue as a non-negotiable aspect of its sovereignty and that the current negotiations should focus on addressing other outstanding issues related to the JCPOA.
In response to the development, a US State Department official declined to comment on the specifics of the Iranian source’s claims, stating that the United States remained committed to reviving the JCPOA through diplomatic channels. The official noted that the US would engage with Iran in the coming weeks to address remaining issues and resolve outstanding concerns.
The ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the United States are expected to continue in the coming weeks, with diplomats and officials from both sides engaged in intense negotiations to revive the JCPOA.