Iran rejects US President Trump's Uranium transfer claim
Tehran, April 18
Iran has rejected claims by US President Donald Trump that it has agreed to transfer its enriched uranium to the United States, with its Foreign Ministry strongly dismissing the assertion, Al Jazeera reported.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran would not allow such a move under any circumstances, according to Al Jazeera.
"Enriched uranium is as sacred to us as Iranian soil and will not be transferred anywhere under any circumstances," Baghaei was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency, as per Al Jazeera.
His remarks come after US President Donald Trump has said that Iran has "agreed to everything" in ongoing talks with the United States, including a plan to jointly remove enriched uranium from Iran and transport it to the US, CNN reported.
Speaking to CBS, Trump ruled out deploying American troops, saying, "No. No troops." He added, "We'll go down and get it with them, and then we'll take it. We'll be getting it together because by that time, we'll have an agreement, and there's no need for fighting when there's an agreement. Nice right? That's better."
Trump said the US would continue its blockade of Iranian ports "until we get it done" and expressed confidence that a deal could be reached "in the next day or two," with talks likely over the weekend, CNN reported. He also claimed Iran had agreed to stop backing groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.
In remarks to AFP, Trump said there are no "sticking points" left, adding, "We're very close. Looks like it's going to be very good for everybody. And we're very close to having a deal," Al Jazeera reported.
In a separate statement, Baghaei also criticised comments by US officials regarding the Strait of Hormuz, describing them as contradictory, in a sign of "desperation and helplessness", Al Jazeera reported.
"We should not be influenced by the other side's tweets," the spokesperson said. "The statements by American officials are filled with contradictions and lies, and this is nothing new", as reported by Al Jazeera.
He further stressed that decisions regarding the Strait are based on ground realities rather than public messaging. He added, "The opening or closing of the Strait of Hormuz does not happen on social media, but on the ground," according to Al Jazeera.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington over maritime security and ongoing negotiations.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As an Indian watching this, it's concerning. Any instability in the Gulf affects our energy security and the safety of our diaspora there. Hope cooler heads prevail. The Strait of Hormuz comment is particularly tense. 🙏
Trump saying "we'll go down and get it with them" sounds more like a movie line than statecraft. Iran's spokesperson has a point about not being influenced by tweets. Foreign policy shouldn't be conducted on social media. The contradictions are glaring.
While I understand Iran's defensive stance, a complete refusal to negotiate on enriched uranium is what led to sanctions in the first place. There has to be a middle path for verification and peace. The region can't afford another conflict.
"Sacred as Iranian soil" – that's a powerful statement. It shows they won't back down. From India's perspective, we have good relations with both Iran and the US. Our diplomacy will be tested to navigate this. Hope we can play a constructive role.
The blockade of ports is a serious escalation. This directly impacts global trade, including oil shipments to India. The government should be preparing contingency plans. The claim that Iran agreed to stop backing Hezbollah seems far-fetched given their history.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.