Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, rejected the possibility of moving Iran's enriched uranium out of the country, a stance that keeps the dispute over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program and the conditions for reaching a possible agreement alive.
Control of enriched uranium stockpiles is one of the central
points of the nuclear negotiations, due to differences between Tehran and its
international counterparts regarding the necessary guarantees to limit Iranian
nuclear activities.
Enriched uranium can be used for civilian purposes, such as
nuclear power generation, but it can also approach concentration levels that
allow its use in nuclear weapons. Therefore, the degree of enrichment, the
amount stored, and international inspection mechanisms are determining factors
in assessing the risks of the program.
Iran's refusal to move this material abroad represents a
potential obstacle to any proposal that includes this measure as part of an
agreement. The issue also reflects differences over Iran's sovereignty,
restrictions on its nuclear program, and the guarantees that other powers would
demand.