Iran has rejected Trump's claims about transferring uranium to the U.S. and accused him of manipulation
Iran has officially denied U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims regarding its alleged willingness to hand over nuclear materials to Washington. Officials in Tehran emphasized that such scenarios are not even being considered.
This was reported by The Jerusalem Post.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai stated that the transfer of enriched uranium is not on the agenda and has never been an option for the country.
“Uranium enriched by Iran will not be transferred anywhere; transferring uranium to the United States was never an option for us,” the diplomat emphasized.
He also accused Donald Trump of manipulation and attempts to “pass off wishful thinking as reality.”
Earlier, during a speech in Arizona, the American leader stated that he intends to remove Iran’s highly enriched uranium using specialized equipment. He has repeatedly referred to this material as “nuclear dust” following U.S. attacks on facilities in Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow in the summer of 2025.
“How will we get the nuclear dust? We’ll get it together with Iran, using a lot of excavators. And we’ll transport it (the nuclear materials, ed.) to the U.S.,” Trump said.
The U.S. president also emphasized that Tehran “will not receive any money in exchange” and did not rule out the continuation of the war in the event of a breakdown in potential negotiations with Iran.
The U.S. and Iran are negotiating a potential deal that involves exchanging enriched uranium for the unfreezing of approximately $20 billion in Iranian assets. Washington’s main goal in the negotiations is to prevent Iran from gaining access to significant stockpiles of enriched uranium and to reduce nuclear risks.
U.S. President Donald Trump also announced progress in negotiations with Iran, under which Washington would allegedly receive all of Tehran’s enriched uranium without any financial payments.
Additionally, Israel agreed to a 10-day ceasefire with Lebanon and announced the start of a move toward a diplomatic settlement; however, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that the war against Hezbollah is not yet over and military operations will continue.
Additionally, Iran announced new rules for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the world’s key oil supply routes. Commercial vessels will now be able to transit only with permission from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy.
U.S. stock markets opened higher following a sharp drop in oil prices. Investors reacted positively to the news that Iran had reopened the Strait of Hormuz.
Additionally, the U.S. does not plan to lift its naval blockade of Iran, even despite Tehran’s statements regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The restrictions will remain in place until the parties conclude negotiations and sign an agreement.
In Israel, military restrictions have been fully lifted for the first time in a month and a half. This became possible after the ceasefire with Lebanon and Iran has held so far. The country is gradually returning to normal life.
The U.S. is calling on G20 countries, as well as the IMF and the World Bank, to intervene urgently to avoid a fertilizer shortage. Due to the war in the Middle East, supplies have been disrupted precisely during the key planting season.
Global oil prices have also fallen by about 5% following news of a possible agreement between the U.S. and Iran. Investors reacted to Donald Trump’s statement that a deal is imminent and began pricing in a reduction in market tensions.
Airlines are warning that flight cancellations could begin in Europe as early as late May due to a shortage of jet fuel. The industry is asking governments to prepare a clear action plan in advance in case supplies need to be restricted.
Also, the Pakistani tanker Shalamar became the first vessel to pass through the Strait of Hormuz carrying crude oil since the U.S. blockade began on April 13.
Iran announced the opening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping for the duration of the ceasefire in Lebanon.
Iran estimates the damage from US and Israeli bombings at $270 billion and is demanding compensation from five Arab countries
Iran promises to respond to the blockade of its ports by closing the Red Sea.
