Iran's Supreme Leader Insists Enriched Uranium Must Stay in Iran

Iran's Supreme Leader has declared that the country's stockpile of enriched uranium must remain on Iranian soil, a position that directly complicates ongoing diplomatic efforts to revive a nuclear agreement with the United States, according to Iranian sources. The statement represents a firm red line from the highest authority in Tehran and significantly narrows the negotiating space available to Iranian diplomats.

The demand contradicts proposals that have circulated in back-channel discussions, under which Iran might agree to transfer a portion of enriched uranium to a third country as part of a confidence-building measure. The Supreme Leader's public reaffirmation of this position signals that such proposals are unlikely to gain domestic traction.

The development comes as Pakistan steps up its own diplomatic efforts to facilitate a resumption of US-Iran dialogue, making the Supreme Leader's hardened stance a direct obstacle to Islamabad's mediation push. Regional interlocutors had been cautiously optimistic about the prospects for engagement in recent weeks.

Analysts warn that the entrenchment of this position could accelerate pressure from Washington for alternative approaches, including tightened sanctions or support for Israeli-backed pressure options. The statement is expected to feature prominently in the next round of international consultations on the Iranian nuclear file.