Iran Rules Out Halting Uranium Enrichment or Handing Over Enriched Stockpile

TEHRAN: Iran has ruled out suspending uranium enrichment or transferring its stockpile of enriched uranium to another country, reaffirming its position on the nuclear programme as diplomatic efforts with the United States continue.

Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, said Tehran would not abandon uranium enrichment, which he described as an integral part of nuclear technology.

Eslami also rejected the prospect of handing over Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, maintaining that the country would continue to stand by its position on the nuclear issue.

He said US threats concerning Iranian nuclear facilities were not new and reiterated Tehran’s opposition to demands that would require it to relinquish its enrichment activities.

The issue remains a major obstacle in negotiations between Washington and Tehran. The Trump administration has pressed Iran to suspend enrichment and address concerns over its stockpile as part of efforts to reach a broader agreement.

Iran, meanwhile, maintains that uranium enrichment is a legitimate part of its nuclear programme.

The latest remarks come as diplomatic contacts continue alongside tensions over the conflict and regional security. Iranian officials have said negotiations remain ongoing, although major differences over nuclear conditions persist.

Whether the two sides can bridge those differences remains uncertain, with uranium enrichment and the future of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile among the central issues in any potential agreement.