Washington:Iran has agreed to surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium as part of a nascent deal with the United States that would end the ongoing conflict between Washington, Israel and Tehran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, The New York Times reported.
However, US officials told the report, while Tehran broadly agreed to give up the material, the precise manner of giving up or transferring the uranium has not been worked out. Officials said the details would be worked out after a formal agreement is signed.
Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium has been one of Washington’s chief points of contention in negotiations to end the conflict and limit Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.
U.S. ponders military optionsThe report also said that military planners had recently drawn up several options for Trump to strike Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, much of which is believed to be buried deep underground at the Isfahan Nuclear Facility. Options being considered include bunker-busting airstrikes as well as a possible joint US-Israeli commando operation to target the facility, the report said. But officials said that the plan for the commando raid was not ultimately approved.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimates Iran has about 970 pounds of uranium enriched to 60 per cent purity. Israeli officials have indicated that the stockpile, if further enriched, could be enough to produce several nuclear weapons.
One option reportedly being discussed is that Iran would transfer the stockpile of enriched uranium to Russia, in arrangements similar to those made under the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated during the administration of former US President Barack Obama.
Another idea being discussed is to lower the enrichment level of the uranium so that it cannot be used for weapons, as part of a broader diplomatic settlement.
Trump says deal 'largely negotiated'President Donald Trump confirmed in a post on Truth Social that he is working hard with a broad coalition of regional leaders at the highest levels to obtain a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding.
“A largely negotiated Agreement has been reached, subject to finalisation between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries,” President Trump said, adding that final aspects are now being discussed and will be announced shortly.
Before the announcement, Trump spoke with leaders and officials from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, Turkiye and Bahrain. He also separately met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump described the talks as positive, saying they focused on a “Memorandum of Understanding regarding peace”. He said negotiators were now working on the other issues before a formal announcement of the deal.
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