President Donald Trump on Monday detailed potential outcomes for Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile as negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue over a possible peace agreement aimed at ending months of conflict and restoring stability in the Middle East.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the uranium — which he referred to as “Nuclear Dust!” — could either be transferred to the United States for destruction or eliminated under international oversight within Iran or another mutually approved location.
“The Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Dust!) will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, in conjunction and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place or, at another acceptable location, with the Atomic Energy Commission, or its equivalent, being witness to this process and event,” Trump wrote.
The fate of Iran’s enriched uranium has emerged as one of the central issues in ongoing negotiations hosted in Qatar. U.S. officials have long argued that Tehran should dismantle key elements of its nuclear program and surrender its stockpile to prevent the development of a nuclear weapon.
The latest diplomatic effort comes after months of military escalation between the United States, Israel, and Iran. American strikes targeted several Iranian nuclear-related facilities earlier this year, while Israel conducted extensive attacks on Iranian infrastructure last year. Following those operations, Trump claimed the facilities had been “obliterated.”
Despite the recent military pressure, both sides appear to be pursuing a negotiated settlement. A successful agreement could also lead to the gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy shipping routes. Disruptions in the strait have contributed to concerns over global oil supplies and fuel prices.
House Speaker Mike Johnson voiced support for the administration’s approach during an appearance on “Fox & Friends Weekend” on Sunday.
“We’ll take care of the nuclear dust,” Johnson said. “We’ll get the Strait of Hormuz reopened, which will be great for gas prices here and stability around the world, and that’s why all the regional allies are following U.S. leadership under President Trump.”
Trump has repeatedly insisted that Iran cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. He has also continued to criticize the Obama-era nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which placed restrictions on Iran’s uranium enrichment activities. Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement in 2018, arguing it failed to permanently block Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
Iranian officials, however, maintain that their nuclear program is intended for peaceful civilian purposes. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday that Tehran was prepared “to assure the world that we are not after a nuclear weapon.”
At the same time, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei downplayed reports that the country’s nuclear material had become a major topic in the negotiations. According to The Associated Press, Baqaei said “the focus of the negotiations is on ending the war and at this stage.”
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