Trump Claims Iran Agreed to Hand Over Enriched Uranium in Peace Deal
President says “nuclear dust” will be removed and destroyed as part of the landmark agreement that ends the four-month war with Iran.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has claimed that as part of the new US-Iran peace deal, Tehran has agreed to give the United States its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, a key component in the development of nuclear weapons.
“They’re going to give us the nuclear dust,” Trump said in a recent interview, reiterating a position he has consistently maintained since the early days of the conflict . “We’ll take it out and destroy it, whether it’s onsite or whether we take it offsite” .
Trump’s Position on the Uranium Stockpile
President Trump has consistently insisted that Iran cannot retain its highly enriched uranium stockpile.
“We’ll probably destroy it after we get it, but we’re not going to let them have it,” Trump said at the White House in May . “They’re not gonna have a nuclear weapon” .
Speaking at the G7 summit in France on Monday, Trump emphasized the centrality of the uranium issue to the entire agreement, declaring that Iran would “never have a nuclear weapon” and that the deal is a “wall against a nuclear weapon” .
Trump has described the stockpile as “nuclear dust” – the term he uses for Iran’s uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels . According to the BBC, the 2015 nuclear agreement which Trump abandoned during his first term had required Iran to maintain its enrichment levels at 3.67% purity – enough for reactor fuel, but far below the 90% weapons-grade threshold .
The US and Israel attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities in June 2025, and US officials said the campaign significantly set back Iran’s ability to build a nuclear weapon. At the time, the International Atomic Energy Agency estimated Iran had 440.9kg (972lbs) of uranium enriched up to 60% purity – just one technical step away from weapons-grade .
The US has previously indicated that a team of about 100 experts was assembled to support negotiations, including nuclear disposal experts .
The Iran Deal Framework
Senior US officials have said the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the US and Iran will “begin the process of destroying or removing” Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpile .
Vice President JD Vance confirmed that the agreement includes provisions for international nuclear inspectors to return to Iran as part of the enforcement mechanism .
“The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the US will assist Tehran in destroying its highly enriched uranium stockpile,” Vance told NBC News. He said this requirement is “spelled out very clearly” in the MOU .
According to Vance, the US and its allies have not yet released any frozen Iranian assets or provided sanctions relief – unlike the 2015 agreement which gave Iran access to billions in previously frozen assets . The current agreement is “performance-based,” with economic benefits tied to Iran’s compliance .
How the Uranium Removal Works
The mechanism for removing Iran’s uranium remains a complex technical issue. According to US officials, roughly 1,000 pounds (453.6 kilograms) of enriched uranium is currently “trapped under the debris of sites targeted during the US-Israeli offensive last June” .
Trump has downplayed the urgency of retrieving the stockpile. “Nobody’s touching it. We also have Space Force cameras monitoring the sites,” he told reporters at the G7 summit .
Despite downplaying the importance of securing the enriched uranium, Trump says it will be at the top of discussions with Iran over the next two months. “They’ll work closely with us to turn over the so-called enriched material,” he said .
The senior US official briefing on the deal said the 60-day period after the signing would be used to work out technical details for removing Iran’s enriched uranium . The official did not specify who would take charge of the removal .
Iran’s Counter-Narrative
Iran has previously pushed back strongly against Trump’s claims regarding the uranium stockpile. In May, sources close to the Iranian negotiating team described Trump’s claim that Iran’s enriched uranium would be destroyed as “completely unfounded” .
“We have said ‘zero enrichment’ is a red line and a violation of our rights,” Iranian officials have repeatedly stated .
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that the terms of dealing with Iran’s nuclear program would be finalized in the 60 days after the initial agreement is signed and that the parties could decide to extend that period .
Comparison to the 2015 Nuclear Deal
The current agreement is being compared to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Trump abandoned in 2018, calling it a “horrible, one-sided deal” .
Unlike the 159-page JCPOA, the current MOU is described as “a very general document” of about one and a half pages that sets up a framework for further negotiations .
“The MoU is about a page and a half, so it is a very general document. But this has been very much part of the conversations that we’ve had with the Iranians,” Vance told CNN .
However, Trump has stressed that the outcome – preventing Iran from ever possessing a nuclear weapon – is what matters most .
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Did Iran actually agree to hand over its enriched uranium to the US?
A: President Trump has stated that Iran has agreed as part of the peace deal, and a senior US official confirmed that the MOU begins the process of destroying or removing Tehran’s highly enriched uranium . However, Iran has previously denied such claims, calling them “completely unfounded” . The technical details of uranium removal are still being negotiated during a 60-day period .
Q2: How much enriched uranium does Iran have?
A: Before the June 2025 US-Israeli strikes, the IAEA estimated Iran had 440.9kg (972lbs) of uranium enriched up to 60% purity – just one technical step from weapons-grade . There is also reportedly 1,000 pounds (453.6 kilograms) of material “trapped under the debris” of bombed sites .
Q3: What is the difference between this deal and the 2015 nuclear agreement?
A: The 2015 JCPOA was a 159-page detailed agreement with specific limits on Iran’s enrichment activities . The current MOU is described as about one and a half pages of general framework provisions, with technical details to be negotiated over 60 days . Trump has said his deal is “far better” than the JCPOA, which he withdrew from .
Q4: When will the enriched uranium be removed from Iran?
A: The MOU sets up a 60-day period after the signing for Iran and the US to work out the technical details for removing the enriched uranium . The parties could agree to extend this period .
Q5: Is Iran receiving any economic benefit in exchange?
A: Unlike the 2015 agreement, which gave Iran access to billions in frozen assets immediately, the current deal is “performance-based” – Iran can only access economic benefits after it begins fulfilling its obligations .
This is a developing story. Reflecto News will continue to provide updates on the implementation of the US-Iran peace agreement and the removal of enriched uranium from Iran.
