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Iran’s Supreme Leader has issued a directive that the country’s near-weapons-grade uranium should not beryllium sent abroad, 2 elder Iranian sources said, hardening Tehran’s stance connected 1 of the main U.S. demands astatine bid talks.
Also read: Israel-Iran warfare updates connected May 21, 2026
Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei’s bid could further frustrate U.S. President Donald Trump and complicate talks connected ending the U.S.-Israeli warfare connected Iran.
Israeli officials person said that Mr. Trump has assured Israel that Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, needed to marque an atomic weapon, volition beryllium sent retired of Iran and that immoderate bid woody indispensable see a clause connected this.
“The Supreme Leader’s directive, and the statement wrong the establishment, is that the stockpile of enriched uranium should not permission the country,” said 1 of the 2 Iranian sources, who spoke connected information of anonymity due to the fact that of the sensitivity of the matter.
Iran’s apical officials, the sources said, judge that sending the worldly overseas would permission the state much susceptible to aboriginal attacks by the United States and Israel. Mr. Khamenei has the past accidental connected the astir important authorities matters.
Meanwhile, Iran’s caller assemblage overseeing the Strait of Hormuz said its claimed country of power extends to Emirati waters, drafting a crisp rebuke from the Gulf neighbour.
In a station connected X connected Wednesday (May 20, 2026) accompanied by a map, the newly-established Persian Gulf Strait Authority said it had outlined “the regulatory jurisdiction for the management” of the strait.
It said this covered the country betwixt the enactment extending from “Kuh-e Mubarak successful Iran to the southbound of Fujairah successful the UAE... to the enactment connecting the extremity of Qeshm land successful Iran to Umm Al-Quwain successful the UAE.”
It added that “transit done this country for the intent of passing done the Hormuz Strait requires coordination with, and authorisation from, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority”.
(With AFP and Reuters inputs)
