As nuclear talks between the United States and Iran entered 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 forgo 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 worked out in future negotiations over 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 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 is considered the biggest sticking point in the two sides' end-of-war talks. The NYT assessed, "It is meaningful in itself that the long-sought U.S. goal of Iran giving up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium is included in the agreement." Iran possesses about 440 kg of 60% highly enriched uranium, and President Trump has repeatedly stressed that the United States will secure this stockpile. If the United States secures it, it could quell public criticism of a prolonged war.
Iran has not yet announced an official position on the agreement.
At first, Iran demanded that the issue of the highly enriched uranium stockpile be excluded from this initial agreement phase and pushed to a second-stage negotiation. However, the U.S. negotiating team is said to have conveyed to Iran through mediating countries that "if the initial agreement does not include content related to the stockpile, we will leave the talks and resume military operations."
The U.S. military is also said to have recently briefed President Trump on options to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. Most of the highly enriched uranium is believed 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 said to now be buried underground. U.S. officials said the military also reviewed additional strikes with bunker-buster bombs on the facility to destroy the buried stockpile.
On Truth Social, President Trump said, "Coordination on detailed issues is underway, and as part of the agreement the Strait of Hormuz will also be opened." He did not say what specific agreements have been reached or what obstacles remain.