Iran rejects calls to halt uranium enrichment or hand over stockpile

Iran has refused to halt uranium enrichment or hand over its stockpile of enriched materials, as the United States continues to press Tehran for concrete steps to reduce its nuclear capabilities, with indirect messages ongoing between the two sides through intermediaries.

Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said on Thursday that the country will not back down from uranium enrichment, stressing that enrichment is “an integral part of the nuclear process and a foundation for scientific and technological progress” in Iran, and reaffirming that the country will not relinquish its right to do so.

Eslami added that US threats against Iran’s nuclear facilities are not new, and said, according to Reuters citing Iranian state media, that the pressure related to the nuclear program shows those taking such positions “have reached a dead end.”

Regarding negotiations, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization explained that the issue of enrichment has been raised again, with calls for it to be included on the negotiation agenda, but Tehran will not accept this.

Eslami also noted that the United States itself prioritizes nuclear technology in its development, security, and defense documents, and that many countries are competing in this field. Iranian media quoted him as reaffirming that Iran will not hand over its enriched uranium either.

On the other hand, US Vice President J.D. Vance said in an interview on Tuesday that progress in negotiations requires Iran to take a “meaningful step” regarding its enrichment capability.

Vance questioned why Tehran needs 60% enriched fuel if it claims not to seek nuclear weapons, arguing that halting production of such fuel would demonstrate its commitment.