Trump Threatens Strikes on Iranians Near 400kg Uranium Stockpile as Ceasefire Talks Stall
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 10
Trump Threatens Strikes on Iranians Near 400kg Uranium Stockpile as Ceasefire Talks Stall
5 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 10
Trump said the US would "blow up" anyone trying to reach Iran’s highly enriched uranium, saying Space Force and the military are continuously monitoring the stockpile.
The warning targets one of the main obstacles in talks to end the 10-week US-Israel war: Washington wants the uranium removed from Iran and enrichment ended, while Tehran refuses to surrender domestic enrichment.
Iran is estimated to hold more than 400kg of uranium enriched to 60% purity, reportedly buried under nuclear sites bombed by the US in June 2025; weapons-grade uranium is typically enriched to about 90%.
Trump last month claimed Iran had agreed to let the US retrieve the material, but Tehran rejected that, with its Foreign Ministry saying the enriched uranium would not be transferred "under any circumstances."
The dispute is unfolding despite last month’s truce, with Gulf skirmishes continuing, Hormuz disruptions pushing US gasoline above $4.50 a gallon, and Trump saying the war is not over and only about 70% of targets were hit.
With Iran's nuclear material hidden, is the world flying blind into a potential nuclear crisis?
As new powers mediate the conflict, can diplomacy succeed where military force has stalled?
May 2026 U.S.-Iran Crisis: Fragile Ceasefire, Nuclear Tensions, and Naval Blockade Threaten Regional Stability
Overview
As of May 15, 2026, the ceasefire between the United States and Iran is extremely fragile, following a 39-day conflict that began in late February. President Trump described the ceasefire as 'on life support' after dismissing Iran's response to a U.S. proposal as weak and unworthy of full consideration. This reflects deep, irreconcilable demands on both sides and a stalled diplomatic process. The situation is further strained by recent direct military clashes, including U.S. forces sinking Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting the high risk of renewed conflict and the failure of current negotiation efforts.