Iran's enriched uranium has re-emerged as a central sticking point in indirect talks between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending the war, with Iranian officials rejecting any transfer of the stockpile abroad.1,3
The United States and Israel launched the war in February, citing Tehran's nuclear programme, and the conflict has since caused a global energy crisis. Al Jazeera reported that the nuclear programme has once again become one of the biggest stumbling blocks to a ceasefire, and that a deal to ensure a permanent ceasefire remains out of reach. Qatar and Pakistan are engaged in mediation efforts.1
A memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries in June focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a global oil chokepoint. The memorandum also stated that Iran "shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons," but a comprehensive agreement, including the nuclear issue, could not be completed within the stipulated 60-day period. Analysts said differing interpretations of the agreement's clauses caused it to fall apart, according to Al Jazeera.1
Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary, Mohsen Rezaei, met Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, in Tehran on Tuesday. In comments carried by the semi-official Fars news agency, Rezaei said "even a particle of enriched uranium will not exit Iran at all." He described the material as a major national asset that would remain in the country for domestic use.1
Rezaei's remarks came amid media reports that the United States wants Iran to transfer part of its enriched uranium out of the country. President Donald Trump has previously called for the removal of the stockpile. Rezaei also said negotiations with Washington would not begin until the United States fulfils trust-building measures, including meeting the latest conditions Tehran has set.1
Those conditions include lifting the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, waiving sanctions and releasing frozen Iranian assets. In return, Iran has promised to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reported.1
Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a member of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said Iran is not seeking the production of nuclear weapons. "Iran's enrichment activities are unrelated to the US, and Washington should focus on fulfilling its own obligations regarding nuclear arms reduction," he said.1
On the American side, Al Jazeera reported that Trump has called for "zero uranium enrichment." Earlier this week, Vice President JD Vance appeared to offer concessions on the nuclear issue to reach a deal, the network said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday reiterated his pledge to topple the Iranian government, which he said is key to preventing it from developing nuclear weapons.1
The Washington Times reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has praised mediation efforts in Iran while maintaining a hard line on the nuclear issue.2
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that indirect negotiations with the United States continue over a seven-day ceasefire proposal that Trump initially rejected last month. The Americans are seeking new clauses, CBS News reported.3
Despite global oil prices remaining near five-month highs, Trump insisted on Tuesday that "we're doing very well" with Iran. He said he had yet to "make a final decision of which way do we want to win" the war, "the nice way or the not nice way."3
A senior Revolutionary Guard official, Brig. Gen. Yadollah Javani, the IRGC's deputy for political affairs, threatened on Wednesday to target undersea internet cables in the Strait of Hormuz and other American assets if the United States launches new attacks on Iranian infrastructure. "The Americans and their allies have significant investments, and if they want to damage our infrastructure, it is natural that the Islamic Republic will use all its capabilities and easily destroy their investments and assets, including the internet cables that pass beneath the waters of the Strait of Hormuz," he said.3
On the military balance, Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia has repeatedly claimed since late August that Iran has rebuilt its weapons manufacturing capacity. Early in the war, the US military said it had destroyed more than 85% of Iran's "defense industrial base." CBS News reported that experts have questioned that assessment, and that Iran has demonstrated an ongoing capacity to launch attacks on ships in the region.3
The conflict has also spread to Yemen. Yemen's Houthi rebels said they had targeted a Saudi military operations room at Badr Camp in Aden with a ballistic missile on Wednesday. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a post on X, "The strike was accurate and direct." A police official in Aden told AFP there had been a blast "caused by a Houthi missile," and CBS News reported that the attack was the third on Aden in a week.3,1
A Qatari aircraft arrived in Tehran on Tuesday minutes after a plane carrying Munir had departed, and left about 30 minutes later, according to aviation tracking data cited by Fars. The short visit raised questions about whether it carried a diplomatic message, though the Fars report gave no information about the passengers or the reason for the brief stay.3
For now, the nuclear question remains unresolved, and Iranian officials have tied the start of formal negotiations to Washington's response to Tehran's conditions. Al Jazeera asked how the Qatari and Pakistani mediators would get the two sides to agree on enrichment.1,3