Iran Rejects Removing Enriched Uranium as Mediators Shuttle Between Tehran and Washington

5.0 · 10d ago · WORLD

The Facts

  • Iran's latest terms to end the war include lifting the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, sanctions waivers on oil sales, and release of frozen assets; in return Iran says it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. ✓2 · Al Jazeera, CBS News
  • Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said indirect talks with the US via mediators, including Pakistan and Qatar, continue over a seven-day ceasefire proposal Iran presented in September; he said the US wants to add clauses. ✓2 · CBS News, Al Jazeera
  • Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's security chief, said after meeting Pakistani army chief Asim Munir in Tehran that no enriched uranium will leave Iran. Al Jazeera, CBS News only
  • Rezaei did not rule out downblending highly enriched uranium inside Iran under monitor supervision, which Iran has offered before. Al Jazeera only
  • President Trump has called for zero uranium enrichment; VP JD Vance said a meaningful reduction in Iran's enrichment capacity and a verifiable long-term commitment not to rebuild could satisfy US demands. Al Jazeera only
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  • A US-Iran memorandum of understanding was signed on June 17; a comprehensive deal including the nuclear issue was not reached within its 60-day period. Al Jazeera only
  • The war began on February 28 with US and Israeli attacks on Iran. Al Jazeera only
  • Before the June 2025 strikes, the IAEA estimated Iran held 440 kg of uranium enriched up to 60 percent; the current stockpile is unverified because Iran has barred IAEA inspectors since the war began. Al Jazeera only
  • A Qatari aircraft landed in Tehran minutes after Munir's plane departed and left about 30 minutes later, per aviation data cited by Fars. CBS News only
  • IRGC Brig. Gen. Yadollah Javani threatened to target undersea internet cables in the Strait of Hormuz if Iranian infrastructure is attacked. CBS News only
  • Houthis claimed a ballistic missile strike on a Saudi operations room at Badr Camp in Aden, the third attack on Aden in a week; an Oct. 10 Houthi strike on Riyadh airport killed an American. CBS News only
  • US embassies in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and other countries issued new security alerts on Sunday over the Houthi threat. CBS News only
  • Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told Munir Iran had nothing new to tell Washington and expects conditions offered in New York last month to be met so Hormuz reopens within seven days. Al Jazeera only

Context

Diplomatic activity continues in the war between the US-Israel side and Iran, with Pakistan and Qatar mediating indirectly. Iran's position that enriched uranium will not leave the country conflicts with US calls for removal or zero enrichment, though Iranian officials have signaled openness to in-country downblending under supervision.

Separately, Houthi attacks on Saudi targets in Yemen and Iranian threats to Gulf infrastructure have raised regional escalation concerns.

Conflicting Reports

  • Al Jazeera's first article calls Rezaei Iran's security chief and quotes him saying 'even a particle' will not leave; Al Jazeera's second article quotes 'not a single gram' and titles him secretary of the Supreme National Security Council; wording differs but substance is the same.
  • Al Jazeera dates Munir's Tehran meeting with Rezaei to Tuesday; the second Al Jazeera article says Munir was in Tehran Wednesday and Rezaei spoke late Tuesday.

Sources (3)

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