Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has reportedly signed off “in principle” on a framework that would see Tehran dispose of its highly enriched uranium stockpile as part of a developing peace agreement with the United States.
According to a senior Trump administration official, American negotiators believe Iran’s leadership has approved the “broad template” of a deal that would reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and potentially bring an end to months of escalating conflict tied to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“They will open up the strait in exchange for us lifting the blockade, and they will agree in principle to dispose of the highly enriched uranium,” the official said. “We feel quite confident that the supreme leader has signed off on the broad template.”
The reported framework would reopen shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz without additional tolls or restrictions after months of severe disruptions that rattled global oil markets and raised fears of a worldwide economic crisis.
Still, major details remain unresolved as both sides continue negotiating the exact wording and enforcement structure of the agreement.
Officials say the biggest sticking point now centers on how Iran can publicly frame surrendering its uranium stockpile without appearing weak to hardliners inside the Islamic Republic.
“A lot of this debate is not really what happens to the stockpiled material, but it’s how the Iranians can sell it to their own hardliners and to their own population,” the administration official explained.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted Iran cannot be allowed to retain highly enriched uranium, which American officials say could potentially be used to produce nuclear weapons.
Trump previously floated the possibility of outright destroying the material once it is removed from Iran, while also suggesting China could potentially assist in excavating and transporting buried nuclear stockpiles from heavily bombed facilities.
The administration has framed the negotiations around what one official summarized as “no dust, no dollars.”
“In other words, no highly enriched uranium, then the Iranians aren’t going to get any real relief,” the official said.
Under the reported framework, sanctions relief would be directly tied to Iran’s compliance in surrendering and disposing of its uranium stockpile.
Officials stressed Iran would receive no immediate unfreezing of assets or broad sanctions relief until concrete steps are taken.
The negotiations come after months of military escalation following Operation Epic Fury, the massive U.S.-Israeli military campaign targeting Iranian nuclear infrastructure and military facilities.
Since the strikes began, questions have swirled about the stability of Iran’s leadership and whether Khamenei remained fully involved in negotiations behind the scenes.
American officials have repeatedly complained about mixed signals coming from various factions within the Iranian government, suggesting internal divisions continue to complicate the talks.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian publicly maintained that Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons while also insisting Tehran would not surrender its national dignity.
“We are ready to assure the world that we are not seeking nuclear weapons,” Pezeshkian said. “But our negotiating team will not compromise when it counts to our country’s dignity and sovereignty.”
The potential deal has already sparked backlash among Republican hawks and some allies of the Trump administration, who fear Iran could eventually use the Strait of Hormuz as leverage again in future conflicts.
Israeli officials have also reportedly expressed private concerns about whether Iran can truly be trusted to permanently relinquish its enriched uranium stockpile.
Trump attempted to reassure critics this week, warning that the U.S. blockade would remain fully in place until any agreement is formally finalized and verified.
“The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed,” Trump declared on Truth Social.
Administration officials also cautioned that the negotiations remain fragile and could still collapse despite recent progress.
“Whether the broad template becomes an actual agreement,” one official admitted, “is still an open question.”
The post Iran’s Supreme Leader Reportedly Agrees ‘In Principle’ To Give Up Uranium In Peace Talks appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
