Iran’s Leader makes final decision, says not handing over uranium to USA
Sources familiar with the matter say the decision reflects growing concern within Iran’s leadership that transferring enriched uranium abroad could weaken the country’s strategic position and expose it to future military pressure from the United States or Israel.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has reportedly made a final decision not to hand over the country’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the United States, according to a senior source cited by Al Arabiya English.
The reported move marks a major escalation in tensions surrounding ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington over Iran’s nuclear program.
Sources familiar with the matter say the decision reflects growing concern within Iran’s leadership that transferring enriched uranium abroad could weaken the country’s strategic position and expose it to future military pressure from the United States or Israel.
The uranium stockpile has remained one of the central sticking points in recent diplomatic efforts aimed at easing regional tensions and reviving broader security talks.
U.S. officials have repeatedly insisted that Iran must surrender or significantly reduce its enriched uranium reserves as part of any future agreement.
Iranian officials, however, continue to maintain that the country’s nuclear activities are intended for peaceful and civilian purposes, including energy production and medical research. Tehran has also argued that retaining enriched uranium is a matter of national sovereignty and security.
The reported decision by Khamenei is expected to complicate ongoing diplomatic negotiations and could trigger renewed international pressure on Iran’s nuclear program.
