Iran Offers Compromise on Uranium Stockpile but Rejects Nuclear Site Dismantling
Iran has proposed a partial solution to the ongoing nuclear standoff by offering to transfer some of its highly enriched uranium stockpile to a third country, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. However, Tehran has firmly rejected the U.S. demand to dismantle its nuclear facilities, leaving a significant gap between the two sides.
Details of the Proposal
Under the reported plan, Iran would dilute a portion of its highly enriched uranium and send the remainder to an unspecified third nation. The proposal also includes a call for guarantees that the transferred uranium would be returned if negotiations fail. This move comes as a response to the latest U.S. proposal aimed at ending 10 weeks of conflict, which began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.
Iran's response, spanning several pages, also proposes a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to hostilities. However, the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump has insisted on more comprehensive measures, including the dismantling of Iran's nuclear infrastructure.
Reactions and Denials
Iran's semi-official news agency Tasnim denied the accuracy of the Journal's reporting on the nuclear material proposals, calling them “not true” without providing further details. The agency emphasized Iran's demand for an immediate ceasefire, lifting of U.S. sanctions on oil sales, and an end to the blockade of the Gulf of Oman.
President Trump, in a social media post on May 10, 2026, accused Iran of “playing games” and warned of potential escalation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also stated that the war is “not over,” emphasizing the need to dismantle Iran's nuclear capability and remove its enriched uranium stockpile.
Ongoing Conflict and Regional Impact
The conflict has resulted in thousands of casualties across the Middle East and caused energy prices to surge. A shaky ceasefire has been in place since April 8, but recent incidents threaten its stability. On Sunday, a drone strike set a cargo vessel ablaze off Qatar, while the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait intercepted hostile drones. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi warned that the presence of UK and French warships in the Strait of Hormuz would be met with a “decisive and immediate response.”
The dispute over the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas flows, remains a critical sticking point. Trump has hinted at an expanded version of Project Freedom to break Iran's maritime blockade. With U.S. midterm elections approaching, the soaring fuel prices are adding pressure on the administration to resolve the crisis.
