Iran Rejects US Uranium Demands as UN Sanctions Loom

TDT | Tehran

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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday criticized US demands for Tehran to hand over its enriched uranium, calling them "unacceptable," as sweeping UN sanctions threatened to take effect following the collapse of nuclear talks.

The UN nuclear watchdog earlier reported that Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60 percent had reached an estimated 440.9 kilograms as of June 13, up 32.3 kilograms since May 17. While Iran allowed inspectors back into its nuclear sites, Western powers said progress was insufficient to justify delaying sanctions after a week of high-level diplomacy at the UN General Assembly.

European countries triggered a "snapback" of sanctions last month, accusing Iran of failing to meet nuclear program requirements, including countermeasures it enacted in response to Israeli and US strikes in June.

Pezeshkian told reporters in New York that the United States had asked Iran to surrender all enriched uranium in exchange for a three-month pause on sanctions. "This is by no means acceptable," he said. France had reportedly made a similar offer, but for only a one-month reprieve. "Why would we put ourselves in such a trap and have a noose around our neck each month?" Pezeshkian added, accusing Washington of pressuring European nations not to compromise.

The Iranian president reiterated that Tehran has no intention of developing nuclear weapons, blaming the US and Israel for using pressure tactics to undermine the Islamic Republic.

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, involved in the discussions, expressed Washington’s willingness to continue talks, saying it did not intend to harm Iran. However, Pezeshkian dismissed these efforts, claiming earlier agreements fell apart following Israel’s June military actions against Iran.

In response to the sanctions, Iran recalled its envoys from Britain, France, and Germany for consultations, according to state television. The measures, set to take effect at 0000 GMT Sunday, will reinstate a global ban on dealings with individuals, companies, and organizations linked to Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.

The sanctions are intended to pressure Iran economically, but enforcement remains uncertain. Russia’s Deputy Ambassador Dmitry Polyansky on Friday declared the reimposition "null and void," while Russia and China unsuccessfully sought a Security Council delay until April.