Iran has agreed in principle to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium as part of an emerging, US-backed framework agreement to end the war, according to reports from US officials on 24 May 2026.
The disposal of this near-weapons-grade material had been the primary sticking point in intense diplomatic negotiations between the United States and the Islamic Republic.
Overview of the Emerging Agreement
General Commitment: Iran committed in a general statement to relinquishing its highly enriched material.
The specific mechanisms of how the material will be given up—such as shipping it abroad to Russia or diluting it—remain unresolved and are deferred to a subsequent round of nuclear negotiations set to begin in the coming weeks.
Iran originally resisted surrendering its stockpile during the initial phase of the deal, but US negotiators successfully forced its inclusion by threatening to resume heavy military airstrikes.
This development is tied to a broader peace proposal announced by US President Donald Trump, which aims to permanently halt the active conflict and reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran holds approximately 440 kilograms (970 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity.
Israeli and US intelligence officials state that this 60% enriched stock is just a short technical step away from weapons-grade purity (90%), making it theoretically sufficient to construct 10 to 11 low-technology atomic bombs if further refined.
The bulk of this highly enriched uranium is believed to be stored securely inside deep tunnel complexes at the Isfahan nuclear facility.
While the initial memorandum stops the fighting, the upcoming phase of formal nuclear talks will carry high stakes. The US is expected to push for a 12-to-15-year moratorium on all Iranian uranium enrichment.
To ensure compliance, the West has structured the deal so that billions of dollars in frozen Iranian foreign assets will only be released incrementally into a reconstruction fund as final verification milestones are met.
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