Washington, DC — US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Washington will ultimately recover what US officials say is Iran’s hidden stockpile of highly enriched uranium, intensifying pressure on Tehran even as diplomatic talks continue.
Speaking at the White House, Trump insisted the United States would not allow Iran to keep near-weapons-grade nuclear material reportedly concealed underground after US and Israeli strikes last year. He said US forces would obtain the material, adding that the US did not want to keep it and might destroy it after retrieval.
US officials estimate Iran holds roughly 900 pounds of highly enriched uranium, an amount that could be used as a basis for weapons development if further processed. Recovering or neutralising that stockpile is described by the administration as a core objective of its military and diplomatic approach toward Tehran.
Iran’s leadership, however, has rejected US demands. Two Iranian sources told Reuters that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei ordered the enriched uranium not be allowed to leave the country, a stance that complicates ongoing negotiations.
The dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme has widened to include tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital international shipping lane for global energy supplies. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that any Iranian attempt to impose transit fees on ships would doom diplomatic progress, calling such a “tolling” scheme unacceptable and illegal.
Trump likewise rejected the proposal, saying the United States wants the waterway to remain open and free for international navigation and that tolls would not be permitted. The administration has maintained a naval blockade in the area, which Trump described as fully effective and likened to a “steel wall” restricting movement through the channel.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy disputed US claims of total control, with Tasnim news agency reporting that 31 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz in the previous 24 hours, highlighting the ongoing contest over access and authority in the Gulf.
Despite the heated rhetoric, US officials say diplomatic contacts with Tehran are continuing. Rubio acknowledged “some progress” in talks aimed at ending the broader US-Israeli conflict with Iran but cautioned against excessive optimism. He also noted a recent visit to Tehran by Pakistan’s army chief as part of diplomatic efforts and said he hoped it would help advance negotiations.
The exchanges reflect what US officials describe as a dual-track strategy: sustaining military pressure on Iran while pursuing a negotiated settlement that would address Tehran’s nuclear programme, regional influence and maritime behaviour.
This report is based on a syndicated feed from ANI and was published by The Tribune as received; the Tribune does not assume responsibility for the feed’s accuracy or completeness.
