A diplomat familiar with Iran–U.S. nuclear negotiations stated that Iran will not allow any nuclear material to be removed from the country under a potential agreement.

Axar.az, citing ISNA, reports that the diplomat described this as a ‘key’ position for Tehran stating:

"The retention of nuclear material inside the country, at any level of enrichment, is among Iran’s key considerations… In negotiations with the United States, we stressed that nuclear material will not be removed from the country.”

The remarks follow comments by Russia’s Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev, who said Moscow is technically prepared to transfer highly enriched uranium if Tehran requests it, noting Russia’s prior experience assisting Iran. However, Iran has made clear it will retain enriched uranium domestically, though any material could be diluted in the event of an agreement.

Iran also dismissed proposals for a regional enrichment consortium as “not on the agenda”, and confirmed that zero enrichment is not under consideration.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi reinforced this position, stating that the U.S. has not demanded permanent suspension of enrichment, nor has Iran offered a temporary halt of two to three years.