President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would obtain Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, additionally barring Israel from further bombing Lebanon.
“The U.S.A. will get all Nuclear ‘Dust,' created by our great B2 Bombers - No money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form,” President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, referring to the Islamic Republic’s fissile material.
“This deal is in no way subject to Lebanon, either, but the USA will, separately, work with Lebanon, and deal with the Hezboolah situation in an appropriate manner,” President Trump added. “Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!! Thank you!”
Peace in the Middle East appears to be near, as the U.S. and Iran appear to be in the midst of reaching an agreement, while Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire in hopes of ending the conflict.
U.S.' Proposal to Iran Over Uranium Stockpiles
Despite President Trump’s statement, news outlet Axios reported that officials familiar with peace talks between the U.S. and Iran revealed that the U.S. has offered the Islamic Republic access to $20 billion if it turns over its highly enriched uranium.
According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Iran currently has access to “972 pounds of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium.” The U.S. proposal aims to strip Tehran of its capabilities to access it.
Two of the officials who informed Axios confirmed that Iran has neither rejected nor accepted the proposal.
WSJ pointed out that the proposal does not specify whether it would include all of Tehran’s stockpiles, including medium-and low-enriched uranium.
The officials stated that one way the U.S. could obtain Iran’s stockpile without exchanging money is by granting the Islamic Republic access to Iranian overseas revenue that has been locked up by the U.S., including “money from the $6 billion in oil export revenues held in Qatar since 2023.”
In addition to oil export earnings, Iran could also gain access to nearly $15 billion in funds owed to it by Iraq for electricity.
