Iran’s Nuclear Stockpile — a Key Part of Negotiations to End the War and a Focus of Trump’s
Experts say the stockpile could be turned into weapons-grade uranium in days or weeks, and its removal remains a major hurdle in negotiations.
- Iran and the United States are nearing a ceasefire agreement to open the Strait of Hormuz, though Iran's nearly 1,000 pounds of uranium enriched to 60% remains a primary sticking point in ongoing negotiations.
- Following the June 2025 Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran retains nearly 1,000 pounds of enriched uranium, which intelligence assessments indicate was buried but not destroyed during the strikes.
- Nuclear experts Eric Brewer and Scott Roecker propose neutralizing the material—sufficient for 10 nuclear weapons—through downblending or transport, noting it lacks "plausible civilian purpose."
- President Donald Trump threatened "to go in" with force if negotiations fail, though experts warn that verifying total destruction of Iran's stockpile will be inherently challenging.
- Under Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran appears to be shifting strategic focus toward the Strait of Hormuz, leaving the ultimate role of the nuclear program uncertain.
13 Articles
13 Articles
US President Donald Trump assured Friday that his "final decision" on negotiations with Iran is imminent in what points to a pre-agreement that could advance in the next few hours. In a social media message, the Republican has indicated Washington will extract the uranium highly enriched by the Iranians to proceed with its destruction, an operation that would be carried out in coordination with the Iranian Government and the International Atomic…
According to Trump himself, "enriched material" is "deeply buried underground with virtually collapsed mountains caused by our powerful B2 bomber attack 11 months ago." Read more: Trump threatens his ally Oman with "aggressive measures" if he agrees with Iran to establish a permanent toll in Ormuz
Iran’s nuclear stockpile — a key part of negotiations to end the war and a focus of Trump’s — explained
What happens to Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, including the 970 pounds that it has highly concentrated to near-weapons grade, is one of the primary sticking points as the US and Iran have trudged through weeks of negotiations to potentially end the Iran war.
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