Trump Says Iran’s Enriched Uranium Could Be Destroyed Inside the Country

President Donald Trump said on May 25 that Iran’s enriched uranium, a central issue in negotiations over ending the conflict, could be destroyed inside Iran.

In a social media post, Trump wrote that the enriched uranium would either be transferred immediately to the US for disposal or destroyed in Iran, or at another mutually acceptable location, with Tehran’s consultation and cooperation. If the material is disposed of in Iran or a third country, the process would take place with representatives of the US Atomic Energy Commission, or an equivalent body, present to observe, he wrote.

It was the first time Trump had mentioned the option of destroying Iran’s enriched uranium inside the country. He had previously insisted that the US must handle Iran’s highly enriched uranium. Russia had earlier offered to take and process the material, but the US rejected the proposal.

Iran has about 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%. Of that, about 200 kilograms, or roughly half, is believed to be buried in underground tunnels at the Isfahan nuclear facility.

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, recently instructed that enriched uranium must not be shipped abroad. Iran told the US on May 10 that it would dilute part of its enriched uranium and keep it in Iran, while sending the rest to a third country and seeking its return if nuclear talks collapse.

Kim Dong-hyun, Hankyung.com reporter 3code@hankyung.com