Iran will not allow enriched nuclear material to leave the country
RIYADH, November 11 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Iran will retain all its enriched nuclear material within the country and will not agree to transfer any of it abroad, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei said on Wednesday, reaffirming Tehran's position amid continued tensions with the United States over its nuclear programme.
Speaking in an interview with Lebanon's Al Mayadeen television, Rezaei said Iran had informed Russia that its enriched nuclear material would remain under Iranian control and be used domestically.
He said the material was needed for the development of nuclear-powered vessels, including ships and submarines, rejecting the possibility of transferring the stockpile to another country as part of a potential agreement.
Rezaei also warned that Iran would respond to any renewed American military strikes, saying its response could include attacks on US military installations beyond the immediate region.
The Iranian official said no negotiations were currently taking place between Tehran and Washington, with the two countries remaining divided over the conditions for a diplomatic settlement.
Iran has presented seven conditions for further engagement with the United States, including measures related to regional hostilities and restrictions affecting Iranian maritime activities.
Rezaei said Tehran was awaiting a clear response from Washington before negotiations could proceed.
The dispute over Iran's enriched uranium remains a central issue in international efforts to address its nuclear programme.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran had an estimated 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity as of June 13, 2025, shortly before military strikes disrupted operations at several Iranian nuclear facilities.
In a September 2025 report, the agency said it could no longer determine the location or quantity of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile with its previous level of confidence because of restrictions on verification activities.
The uncertainty surrounding the material has complicated international efforts to establish the status of Iran's nuclear programme and determine the conditions under which inspections could proceed.
Rezaei's latest statements underscore Tehran's opposition to transferring enriched material abroad, leaving a significant point of disagreement unresolved in the broader diplomatic dispute with Washington.
Source: Reuters
