Iran Rejects U.S. Demand to Surrender
Iran Rejects U.S. Demand to Surrender Enriched Uranium Stockpile in Exchange for Sanctions Relief.
Tehran, Iran — In a significant development surrounding the future of nuclear diplomacy, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has firmly rejected a U.S. proposal that would require Iran to hand over its entire stockpile of enriched uranium in return for a temporary reprieve from sanctions.
Speaking on state television shortly before departing New York, where he attended the United Nations General Assembly President Pezeshkian described the American request as “unacceptable.” According to the Iranian leader, U.S. officials sought the complete transfer of Iran’s enriched uranium reserves as a condition for extending the suspension of sanctions by just three months.
“They want us to pass on to them all our enriched uranium,” Pezeshkian stated, expressing skepticism about the long-term intentions behind the proposal. He warned that such concessions would likely not lead to lasting relief, suggesting that Washington might soon introduce new demands. “In a few months, they will have a new request and will say again that they want to restore the mechanism for the return of sanctions,” he added.
The sanctions in question were originally lifted under the landmark 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal. However, those sanctions are now scheduled to snap back into effect unless a diplomatic breakthrough occurs by tonight, according to reporting by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Iran’s refusal underscores the deep mistrust that continues to characterize U.S.-Iran relations, even as both sides navigate renewed efforts to revive the faltering nuclear agreement. With the clock ticking and no immediate resolution in sight, the international community watches closely to see whether last-minute negotiations can avert the re-imposition of economic penalties that could further destabilize an already tense geopolitical landscape.
