US President Donald Trump claimed on Thursday that Iran has agreed to hand over its stockpile of enriched uranium, saying the two countries are close to reaching an agreement after six weeks of conflict.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said negotiations with Tehran were progressing well and described the talks as “very successful.”
“They have agreed to give us the nuclear dust again,” Trump said, using his term for stockpiles of enriched uranium that Washington believes could be used to build nuclear weapons.
“There is a very good chance that we will do a deal,” he added.
The announcement comes after the US president claimed that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a 10-day ceasefirea ceasefire that could spur efforts to extend the ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel after weeks of devastating war.
Trump said the next round of talks between the US and Iran could take place this weekend. He also suggested that Iran had become more flexible in negotiations and indicated that he was unsure whether the current ceasefire would need to be extended.
“We have a very good relationship with Iran now, as hard as it is to believe,” Trump said. “And I think it’s a combination of about four weeks of bombing and a very powerful blockade.”
According to Trump, the proposed deal could include giving up his ambitions for a nuclear weapon, handing over nuclear material, providing “free oil” and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s nuclear program remains a major sticking point in the negotiations. The US has proposed a 20-year moratorium on Iran’s nuclear activity, while Tehran is said to be seeking a shorter pause of three to five years. Washington has also demanded that highly enriched uranium be removed from Iran, while Tehran has demanded the lifting of international sanctions.
