A top Iranian security official vowed that Tehran would not surrender its enriched uranium. President Donald Trump has frequently stated that the US will acquire Tehran’s stockpile of 60% enriched uranium – which he calls “nuclear dust” – through negotiations or military force. 

Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei said Iran “will not remove even a single particle of enriched nuclear material from the country.” The refusal to surrender its enriched uranium was a policy put in place by the Iranian leader in May. 

Reuters reported speaking with senior Iranian sources, that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, reportedly formalized the policy in May that forbids Tehran from exporting its stockpile of enriched uranium. Iran holds about 1,000 pounds of uranium enriched to 60%.

Iran’s enriched uranium has become a major issue during negotiations to end the war. Washington is demanding that Tehran completely dismantle its nuclear enrichment program and transfer its 60% uranium to the US.

Tehran has maintained that it is willing to downblend its highly enriched uranium to a level at which it can be used as nuclear fuel as part of a peace agreement for ending the war. However, Iranian officials have recently said they are unwilling to engage in nuclear negotiations with the US until Washington lifts sanctions, ends the blockade, and meets other demands. 

While Tehran has remained steadfast in its position, Trump and Vice President JD Vance have suggested the US may be willing to allow Tehran to downblend its uranium rather than transferring it to the US. 

Tehran views its nuclear enrichment program as key to the country’s sovereignty. Iran uses nuclear power to provide energy to its people while exporting its oil and natural gas reserves. 

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US currently sees no need to resume major military operations against Iran, as the economic war against the Islamic Republic would force Tehran to meet Washington’s demands.