Donald Trump has said the United States is working with Iran on a plan to recover and remove enriched uranium, offering the clearest signal yet that negotiations between the two sides may be nearing a breakthrough.
In an interview with Reuters, Trump described a potential joint effort to retrieve nuclear material from Iranian sites.
“We’re going to get it together. We’re going to go in with Iran, at a nice leisurely pace, and go down and start excavating with big machinery… We’ll bring it back to the United States,” he said.
The comments suggest a possible technical solution to one of the most difficult issues in US-Iran negotiations — Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Iran’s Uranium Stockpile at Center of Talks
Iran is believed to possess more than 900 pounds of uranium enriched up to 60% purity, a level far beyond civilian requirements and close to weapons-grade thresholds.
The issue has long been one of the most contentious points in negotiations.
Trump has repeatedly argued that preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon was a primary objective of recent military pressure, while Iran maintains its nuclear program is for peaceful civilian purposes.
Unverified Claims About Isfahan Remain Unclear
Alongside Trump’s remarks, unverified reports have circulated suggesting possible arrangements involving nuclear-related sites near Isfahan.
These claims include speculation about:
- direct U.S. involvement in uranium recovery operations
- potential on-site activity near nuclear facilities
However, no official confirmation has been provided by either Washington or Tehran regarding:
- a U.S. military presence inside Iran
- establishment of any base
- or operational control over nuclear infrastructure
Given the sensitivity, these reports remain unverified and should be treated cautiously.
No Money, Continued Pressure
Trump also dismissed reports of a financial deal tied to uranium removal.
“It’s totally false. No money is changing hands,” he said.
At the same time, he confirmed that U.S. military pressure will continue:
- the naval blockade on Iran remains in place
- restrictions will stay until a final agreement is reached
This reflects a dual-track strategy combining diplomacy and coercive leverage.
Hormuz, Mines and Maritime Control
Trump added that the United States is also working with Iran to remove naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.
This comes as both sides have declared the strait open to commercial shipping, though under differing operational conditions.
Deal May Be Close — But Not Final
Trump struck an optimistic tone about negotiations:
“I think the deal will go very quickly. We’re getting along very well with Iran.”
He added that further talks are expected soon, possibly over the weekend, and could involve additional diplomatic engagement, including a potential visit to Islamabad.
However, key elements remain unresolved, including:
- verification mechanisms
- long-term nuclear limits
- enforcement structure
- regional security conditions
A Critical Moment With High Stakes
The emerging framework suggests a possible pathway:
- Iran limits or gives up enriched uranium stockpiles
- the U.S. maintains pressure until compliance is verified
- maritime stability improves in parallel
But the gap between public statements and confirmed agreements remains significant.
For now, negotiations appear to be moving forward — but with limited clarity and high strategic risk if talks collapse.
