Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, May 23: Iran’s Supreme Leader has reportedly directed that the country’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium must remain within Iranian territory, a decision that could further complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts involving the United States and Israel amid heightened regional tensions.
According to a Reuters report citing senior Iranian officials, the order reflects Tehran’s firm opposition to one of Washington’s central demands in negotiations linked to ending the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran. American and Israeli officials have repeatedly insisted that any future agreement must include the removal of Iran’s near-weapons-grade uranium reserves from the country.
Western governments, along with Israel and the United States, have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons capability, particularly after Tehran increased uranium enrichment levels to 60 percent — far beyond civilian energy requirements and significantly closer to weapons-grade material. Iran, however, has consistently denied seeking nuclear arms and maintains that its nuclear programme is intended for peaceful purposes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that the conflict cannot fully end unless Iran dismantles its ballistic missile programme, cuts support to regional proxy groups, and removes its enriched uranium stockpile.
Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that Iran’s leadership views the export of enriched uranium as a major national security risk. Officials reportedly fear that surrendering the material would leave the country vulnerable to future military pressure or attacks by the United States and Israel.
The Iranian leadership is also said to be deeply sceptical about the current ceasefire, suspecting that Washington could use the pause in fighting to prepare for additional military operations. Iranian officials believe any negotiations must first guarantee a permanent end to hostilities and provide assurances against future attacks.
The fragile truce currently in place followed intense fighting that began after US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets on February 28. In retaliation, Iran launched attacks targeting Gulf nations hosting American military bases, while clashes also escalated between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon.
Despite mediation efforts reportedly involving Pakistan, diplomatic progress has remained limited due to continuing tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme, a US blockade affecting Iranian ports, and Tehran’s strategic control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Parliament Speaker and senior negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf recently warned that recent developments suggested the United States could be preparing additional military action against Tehran.
US President Donald Trump also signalled that Washington remained prepared to carry out further strikes if Iran refused to accept a peace arrangement, although he indicated the US administration was willing to allow additional time for negotiations.
While both sides have reportedly narrowed differences on some issues, major disagreements persist over Iran’s right to continue uranium enrichment and the future of its existing stockpile.
Iranian officials insist that their primary goal remains securing a lasting peace agreement and credible guarantees that no future military attacks will be launched against the country. Only after such commitments, Tehran argues, can meaningful nuclear negotiations proceed.
Before tensions escalated further, Iran had reportedly shown willingness to transfer part of its uranium enriched to 60 percent abroad. However, that stance is said to have changed following repeated warnings from Washington about possible military action.
Israeli officials have reportedly remained uncertain over whether President Trump would approve another direct US strike on Iran or permit Israel to resume independent military operations. Tehran has warned that any future attack would trigger a strong response.
Despite the deadlock, Iranian sources suggested that compromise options still exist. One proposal reportedly under consideration involves diluting Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) rather than removing it from the country.
According to IAEA estimates, Iran possessed approximately 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent before Israeli and US strikes targeted Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025. The current status and exact location of the material remain uncertain.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi had earlier indicated that much of the surviving stockpile was believed to be stored in underground tunnels near the Isfahan nuclear facility, while some quantities were also thought to remain at the Natanz enrichment site.
Iran has continued to defend its nuclear programme by stating that part of the highly enriched uranium is intended for medical research and for use in a Tehran-based research reactor that operates with uranium enriched to around 20 percent.