Iran’s Supreme Leader has issued a directive that the country’s near-weapons-grade enriched uranium must not leave Iranian soil, according to two senior Iranian sources cited by Reuters. The order directly undercuts one of Washington’s central demands in ongoing nuclear peace talks and signals that Tehran is digging in on the most contentious issue at the negotiating table.
Removing or relocating enriched uranium has been a cornerstone of the US position in negotiations. With that option now apparently off the table from Iran’s perspective, the path to any deal just got significantly narrower.
A growing stockpile with shrinking options
Here’s the thing about uranium enriched to 60% U-235: it’s not technically weapons-grade, which sits at roughly 90%. But the jump from 60% to 90% is far easier and faster than getting from natural uranium to 60% in the first place. Think of it like a car that’s already at 120 mph on a highway with a 130 mph speed limit. The gap is small, the momentum is there, and the brakes are optional.
Iran’s stockpile of 60%-enriched uranium was estimated at 440.9 kg as of June 2025. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Tehran was producing roughly 9 kg of this material per month as of late 2024.
