Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has issued a directive that the country’s near-weapons-grade uranium must not be sent abroad, senior Iranian sources said, hardening Iran’s position on a key U.S. demand in ongoing peace talks.
"The Supreme Leader’s directive, and the consensus within the establishment, is that the stockpile of enriched uranium should not leave the country,” said one of the two Iranian sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Iran's top officials, the sources said, believe that sending the material abroad would leave the country more vulnerable to future attacks by the United States and Israel. Khamenei has the last say on the most important state matters.
Khamenei's order could further frustrate U.S. President Donald Trump and complicate talks on ending the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
The White House and Iran's foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
