Iran's enriched uranium will be ‘turned over’ to US or destroyed: Trump
Washington DC [US], May 26 (HBTV): As Washington and Tehran continue to engage in ceasefire negotiations, US President Donald Trump said that Iran’s enriched uranium will be ‘turned over’ to the United States to be destroyed or will be destroyed at an acceptable location.
Trump said the decision would be taken in ‘conjunction and collaboration’ with Iran, signalling a possible softening in Tehran’s stance as the two countries attempt to reach a peace agreement.
‘The enriched uranium will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, in conjunction and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place or at another acceptable location, with the Atomic Energy Commission, or its equivalent, witnessing this process and event,’ Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
The statement also appeared to support a report by The New York Times claiming that Iran has agreed in principle to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium as part of an emerging US-led framework aimed at halting regional conflict.
The development could help resolve one of the key differences between the two countries. CNN had earlier reported that disagreements over language related to Iran’s nuclear programme and the lifting of sanctions had slowed efforts to finalise a broader agreement between Tehran and Washington.
A US official noted that the presence of an Iranian delegation in Qatar on Monday, including senior members of Tehran’s negotiating team, was viewed as a positive development, citing Qatar’s role as a mediator in facilitating dialogue, according to CNN.
Earlier, Trump had asserted that any forthcoming accord with Tehran would only move forward if it resulted in a ‘great and meaningful’ deal, otherwise the administration would walk away entirely as diplomatic talks continue.
Reiterating his position on Truth Social, Trump wrote, ‘The deal with Iran will either be a great and meaningful one, or there will be no deal.’
Iran, meanwhile, signalled that the parties had reached conclusions on a large number of issues, but expressed concern over what it described as Washington’s frequently changing positions, which it said were complicating the negotiations.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said, ‘It is correct that we have reached conclusions on a large portion of the discussion topics, but to say that this means the signing of an imminent agreement is something no one can claim. The frequent changes in the positions of American officials complicate every negotiation.’
(ANI)