Iran Says No Enriched Nuclear Material Will Be Exported Amid Stalled US Talks

Iran's top security official announced that no enriched nuclear material will be shipped out of the country. Mohsen Rezaei told visiting Pakistani army chief Asim Munir that the material is a national asset intended for domestic use. He added that Tehran will not engage in negotiations until the United States takes confidence‑building steps by meeting Iran's listed demands. President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed this view, stating the US must first remove threats and sanctions before any dialogue can begin. He warned that Iran does not trust America and fears renewed attacks if talks resume. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who leads Iran's negotiating team and chairs parliament, made similar remarks, saying US credibility depends on fulfilling seven Tehran‑set demands and that pressure tactics cannot change Iran's strategic choices. Tehran's core demands are a West Asia cease‑fire, the release of Iranian assets frozen abroad, and the lifting of oil‑sector sanctions. The West Asia conflict began in late February after surprise strikes by the US and Israel on Iranian targets, interrupting nuclear negotiations. A June memorandum of understanding that aimed to create a lasting peace framework quickly fell apart, and later indirect talks at the UN General Assembly yielded no breakthrough. Iran has previously insisted it will not hand over its uranium enriched to 60 %, close to the 90 % level needed for a bomb, though it hinted at possible dilution within its own facilities. The US and allies continue to impose sanctions, accusing Tehran of seeking a weapons‑grade program, a charge Iran denies.

Reaction

President Pezeshkian said the United States must first end all threats and lift sanctions before Iran can consider dialogue. Ghalibaf stressed that only by meeting the seven conditions can the US earn Iran's trust, and that military posturing will not sway Iran's decisions.

Context

Enriched uranium at 60 % is near the threshold for a nuclear weapon, making it a sensitive strategic resource. Iran’s insistence on retaining this material reflects both security concerns and bargaining power in negotiations. Sanctions have been a central tool used by the US and its allies to pressure Tehran over its nuclear program.