Media: Iran's Supreme Leader Orders Enriched Uranium To Remain In The Country

• 21.05.2026, 15:12

Khamenei's directive could further displease U.S. President Donald Trump.

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has issued an order that uranium enriched to a level close to that needed for a nuclear weapon should not be shipped abroad, according to two senior Iranian sources, an indication of Tehran's hardening stance on a key U.S. demand in peace talks.

Khamenei's order could further displease U.S. President Donald Trump and complicate negotiations to end the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, writes The Moscow Times.

As reported by Israeli media, Trump assured Israel that Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium needed for atomic weapons would be removed from Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu also said earlier that he would not consider the war over until the enriched uranium was removed from Iran.

"The Supreme Leader's directive as well as the consensus in the ruling circles says that the stockpile of enriched uranium must remain in the country," said one of the two Iranian sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

The sources said senior members of Iran's top leadership believe that sending uranium abroad would make the country more vulnerable to future attacks by the United States and Israel. Khamenei has the final say on the most important matters of state.

The White House and Iran's foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment.