White House confirms Iran hints at uranium surrender

WASHINGTON: The White House said on Wednesday that Tehran has indicated a willingness to hand over its stocks of enriched uranium, a development that underscores one of the central issues in ongoing diplomatic and military tensions between the United States and Iran.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, told reporters that such a transfer of enriched uranium is among President Donald Trump’s top priorities, given his longstanding insistence on preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Trump has repeatedly framed the fate of Iran’s uranium stockpile as a “red line” for US policy.

The uranium in question is believed to be highly enriched material buried inside Iran, and its potential transfer reflects intense diplomatic focus as Washington and Tehran navigate a tentative pause in hostilities and pursue negotiations. US officials have also made clear that they retain the option of military action to secure the material if Iran does not voluntarily relinquish it.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has previously highlighted concerns about Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, which lies close to weapons‑grade levels and remains largely stored underground, complicating verification and monitoring efforts.

President Trump and senior US officials have linked the uranium issue directly to efforts to ensure that Iran cannot build a nuclear weapon, even as Iran asserts its nuclear program is peaceful and negotiators explore diplomatic avenues to avert further conflict.