Two senior Iranian sources said Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei ordered that Iran's near-weapons-grade uranium stockpile must not be sent abroad, rejecting a central U.S. demand in talks to end the U.S.-Israeli war.
That stance reflects Tehran's fear that exporting the material would leave Iran exposed to renewed U.S. or Israeli strikes; officials also suspect the current ceasefire could be a tactical pause before new attacks.
Donald Trump has told Israel the enriched uranium will be removed from Iran, while Benjamin Netanyahu says the war cannot end until the stockpile is gone along with Iran's proxy support and ballistic-missile capability.
Iran had previously signaled it might ship out half of its 60%-enriched stock, but sources said repeated Trump threats changed that position; one source said dilution under IAEA supervision remains a possible compromise.
The IAEA estimated Iran held 440.9 kg of uranium enriched to 60% before the June 2025 strikes, with slightly more than 200 kg later believed stored mainly at Isfahan and some at Natanz.
Iran's uranium is secure underground, but is its regime stable enough to prevent a nuclear crisis?
After its proxy network was shattered, can Iran's direct military threats alone deter another major U.S. attack?
With Iran's new Supreme Leader unheard from, who is truly steering the country through war and peace talks?
Iran’s 60% Enriched Uranium Standoff: Khamenei’s Directive, Blockades, and the Global Nuclear Crisis (May 2026)
Overview
In May 2026, Ayatollah Khamenei issued a directive forbidding the export of Iran’s 60% enriched uranium stockpile, marking a sharp and immediate hardening of Iran’s nuclear stance. This move directly counters international proposals for de-escalation and shuts down diplomatic options like diluting or down-blending uranium, which were seen as key steps toward a stable nuclear agreement. By prioritizing national control over compromise, Iran removes a crucial bargaining chip, clashes with demands from leaders such as Israel’s prime minister, and signals a tougher position that is likely to increase international pressure and heighten proliferation concerns.