Khamenei Refuses to Transfer Enriched Uranium Abroad, Rejects US Demand as Security Risk

Tehran: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has firmly rejected any proposal to transfer the country’s stockpile of enriched uranium outside its borders, declaring that doing so would leave Iran dangerously vulnerable to potential future military strikes by the United States.
In a strongly worded statement, Iranian leadership argued that enriched uranium is not merely a technical or diplomatic bargaining chip but a cornerstone of the country’s national security architecture. Surrendering these stockpiles, they contend, would effectively strip Iran of a critical strategic deterrent at a time of heightened regional tensions and sustained American military presence in the Middle East.
Khamenei made clear that Iran’s nuclear program is a sovereign right of the Iranian nation and that no external pressure — economic, diplomatic, or military — would compel Tehran to abandon or relocate its nuclear assets. The Supreme Leader’s position draws a firm red line ahead of ongoing indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington over a potential revival of a nuclear framework agreement.
The United States had reportedly pushed for the removal of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles to a third country as a key condition of any new or revised nuclear deal — a demand that Tehran has now publicly and categorically refused.
Analysts warn that Khamenei’s hardened stance significantly complicates the already fragile negotiation process, reducing the prospects of a near-term agreement. With both sides standing firm on core demands, diplomatic observers say the window for a breakthrough may be narrowing considerably.