In a significant diplomatic contradiction that has deepened uncertainty around the US-Iran nuclear talks, Tehran has firmly denied agreeing to hand over its highly enriched uranium stockpile to the United States — directly contradicting claims made by American officials just hours earlier. The denial, delivered by a senior Iranian source to Reuters on May 24, 2026, threatens to complicate what had appeared to be tentative progress toward a preliminary peace framework.
What Iran Said — and What the US Claimed
A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Tehran has not agreed to hand over its highly enriched uranium stockpile, and that Iran's nuclear issue was not part of the preliminary agreement with the United States. "The nuclear issue will be addressed in negotiations for a final agreement and is therefore not part of the current deal. There has been no agreement over Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile to be shipped out of the country," the source stated.
The denial came directly in response to a report from The New York Times, which cited two US officials claiming that Iran had apparently committed to giving up the uranium, rather than reaching a precise agreement on exactly how it will relinquish it, with exact details to be worked out during negotiations that will begin once a deal is reached. The gap between these two characterizations reveals just how far apart Washington and Tehran remain on the nuclear dimension of any potential agreement.
The Islamabad Declaration and Ceasefire Framework
The dispute over the uranium stockpile is unfolding against the backdrop of the emerging "Islamabad Declaration" — a preliminary memorandum of understanding (MOU) being negotiated between the US and Iran. Issues relating to Iran's nuclear capabilities and enriched uranium stockpile would still be largely under negotiation, although the MOU would call for Iran to cease any pursuit of nuclear weapons.
One of the central components of the MOU under discussion is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. According to Axios, the current draft of the MOU specifies that the Strait would be open without tolls, and Iran would clear the mines it had deployed there. In exchange, the US would lift its blockade on Iranian ports and waive some sanctions it had imposed, allowing Iran to sell oil freely. These provisions represent significant economic concessions on both sides — but the nuclear issue remains the most contentious and unresolved element.
Iran's Nuclear Stockpile: The Numbers
The stakes around Iran's enriched uranium are enormous. Iran's stockpile of 60% weapons-ready uranium has grown to 408.6 kg, according to a confidential IAEA report viewed by Reuters. Moreover, Iran is believed to have the capacity to make a nuclear weapon in roughly three weeks with its current stockpiles of suitable enriched uranium, the IAEA stated.
Iran has rejected a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that alleged Tehran had increased its stockpile of highly enriched, near weapons-grade uranium by 50 percent in the last three months, calling the report "politically motivated." Tehran's lead nuclear negotiator, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, has simultaneously insisted that Iran deems nuclear weapons "unacceptable" while refusing to commit to halting enrichment — a contradiction that lies at the heart of the diplomatic stalemate.
Washington's Red Line
The Trump administration has been unambiguous about its demands. American officials including President Donald Trump, Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio maintain that Iran must give up enrichment — something it didn't do in its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Iran, for its part, has repeatedly stated it will never permanently abandon its right to enrich uranium under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
For authoritative analysis on the history and current status of Iran's nuclear program and its international legal obligations, the International Atomic Energy Agency's Iran focus page provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date official documentation available.
What This Means for the Peace Process
Iran's denial of the uranium handover agreement signals that the path to a final deal remains treacherous. While both sides appear motivated to end the costly military conflict and restore energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear file — long the most technically and politically complex element of US-Iran diplomacy — is once again proving to be the hardest knot to untangle. With Secretary of State Rubio hinting at imminent news on the talks and President Trump warning that the crisis must be resolved "one way or another," the next 48–72 hours could prove decisive in determining whether a preliminary MOU can survive its most fundamental disagreement.