Iran refuses to export enriched uranium, sets conditions for US talks

Iran has firmly stated it will not export any of its enriched uranium and will not engage in talks with the United States unless Washington takes concrete steps to build trust and fulfills Tehran’s demands.Mohsin Rezaei, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, emphasized the need for the US to take tangible actions to gain Iran’s confidence. Mohammed Baqer Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, reiterated this stance, stating that a climate of trust cannot be established until the US meets Iran’s seven conditions.Key Iranian demands include the removal of US sanctions on its ports, the lifting of restrictions on oil exports, and an end to ongoing conflicts across all fronts in the region. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has also maintained that enriched uranium, which could be used for nuclear weapons, should not be sent out of the country.Iran’s nuclear program remains a significant obstacle to reaching an agreement between the two nations. US Vice President JD Vance stated earlier this month that Iran must significantly reduce its uranium enrichment capacity. While uranium enrichment can produce nuclear energy, highly enriched uranium can also be used in the construction of nuclear weapons.The fact that Iran has enriched uranium to 60 percent purity has been a source of concern for the United States, Israel, and several Western countries. Uranium used in nuclear weapons is typically enriched to approximately 90 percent.Iran, however, denies accusations of seeking to build nuclear weapons, asserting that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Under the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was permitted to enrich uranium only to 3.67 percent purity. The US withdrew from this agreement in 2018.US President Donald Trump, in an October 15 interview with Newsmax, declared that Iran would not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. He also hinted at the possibility of targeting structures built underground related to Iran’s nuclear program but stated that the US would not use nuclear bombs in a war against Iran.Meanwhile, Pakistan is actively working to restart talks between the US and Iran. Pakistani Army Chief and Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf in Tehran on Tuesday. According to Iranian media, discussions focused on the regional situation and efforts to advance negotiations.Previously, a temporary ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran was brokered by Pakistan in June 2026, but it collapsed within weeks after hostilities resumed. The US and Israel initiated military action against Iran on February 28, 2025, to which Iran responded by attacking Israeli and US military bases in the Gulf region.Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has indicated that if the US meets Iran’s conditions, the Strait of Hormuz would reopen on the sixth day, and talks would resume on the seventh day.