Iran refuses to remove enriched uranium from its territory

On October 20, 2026, the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaee, explicitly rejected any proposal to remove enriched uranium from Iranian territory. In a meeting with the commander of the Pakistani armed forces, whose country is acting as a mediator in the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States, Rezaee declared that the stockpile represents a vital national asset and a key strategic advantage that will not be exported.

The fate of Iran's high-enriched uranium remains a primary point of contention in diplomatic tensions between Tehran and Washington. While the United States continues to demand the removal of these materials from the country, Tehran maintains that the only acceptable solution is to dilute the stockpile within its own borders. Rezaee further asserted that no negotiations will occur until the United States takes concrete steps to restore trust, emphasizing that any progress is contingent upon adherence to conditions previously set by the Iranian government.