With nuclear talks between the United States and Iran entering the final coordination stage, Iran has effectively agreed to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, the New York Times (NYT) reported on the 23rd, citing multiple people familiar with the matter.
According to the NYT, as part of an initial agreement, the U.S. demanded that Iran give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and Iran accepted. However, government officials said the specifics of exactly how to handle Iran's uranium stockpile have not been agreed upon, and it is known that the details will be coordinated in upcoming negotiations on Iran's nuclear program.
The NYT said the White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States and Iran were close to an agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but did not disclose specifics.
The handling of highly enriched uranium has been cited as the biggest sticking point in the two countries' end-of-war talks. The NYT assessed, "It is meaningful in itself that the U.S.-pushed abandonment of Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile is included in the agreement." Iran possesses about 440 kg of 60% highly enriched uranium, and President Trump has emphasized that the United States would secure this stockpile. If the United States secures it, it could quell public criticism over a prolonged war.
Iran has not yet announced an official position on the agreement.
Iran initially demanded that the issue of the highly enriched uranium stockpile be excluded from this initial agreement stage and deferred to a second round of talks. However, the U.S. negotiating team is said to have conveyed through mediators to the Iranian side that "if the initial agreement does not include provisions related to the stockpile, we will leave the negotiating table and resume military operations."
The U.S. military is said to have recently briefed President Trump on options to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. Most of the highly enriched uranium is presumed to be stored at the Isfahan nuclear facility. The facility was hit by U.S. Tomahawk missiles in June last year, and some highly enriched uranium is reportedly now buried underground. U.S. officials said the military also reviewed additionally striking the facility with bunker-buster bombs to destroy the buried stockpile.
On Truth Social, President Trump said, "Coordination on detailed matters is underway, and as part of the agreement the Strait of Hormuz will also be opened." He did not mention what specific agreements have been reached or what obstacles remain.