Overview
- In interviews published Saturday, Trump said the U.S. would work with Iran to excavate buried uranium at a “leisurely pace” and bring the material to the United States.
- He ruled out U.S. ground troops for the operation and described the team only as “our people,” leaving logistics and oversight unclear.
- Iran’s Foreign Ministry said no enriched uranium will be transferred anywhere and rejected sending any to the United States.
- Western estimates say Iran holds hundreds of kilograms enriched to about 60%—a short step from 90% weapons‑grade—and the IAEA says much of it lies in damaged or underground sites at Isfahan and Natanz, which would make recovery slow and risky.
- Talks in Islamabad ran 21 hours without a deal, and negotiators plan more sessions to bridge gaps on who holds the material, how long limits last, and how inspectors would verify them.
- Russia says it offered to take and down‑blend the stockpile but that Washington rejected the plan, and Trump denied reports the U.S. might release up to $20 billion in frozen Iranian funds in exchange for uranium.