• President Trump says Iran indicated the U.S. can have its nuclear material but must physically remove it from the country.
  • Iranian officials push back, calling the claim a misrepresentation of stalled negotiations.
  • The dispute underscores fragile diplomacy as talks over enrichment and sanctions relief remain deadlocked.

A New Twist in Nuclear Talks

President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that Iranian representatives told the U.S. they could take possession of the country's nuclear material — but would have to extract and transport it themselves. "They said we can have the nuclear dust, but we have to take it out," Trump said during a briefing. "That's not a negotiation."

The remark, which has not been independently confirmed, introduces a fresh point of contention in the long-stalled talks over Iran's nuclear program. Tehran immediately pushed back, with a senior Iranian official calling the claim "baseless" and reiterating that any transfer of enriched material would require a comprehensive agreement guaranteeing sanctions relief. A spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

The episode highlights the persistent mistrust between the two sides. Behind-the-scenes discussions have reportedly touched on the possibility of reducing Iran's enriched uranium stockpile, which the IAEA says now stands at more than 30 times the limit set by the 2015 nuclear deal. But no framework has been accepted.

Energy markets showed little immediate reaction, though analysts warn that any perceived escalation could reignite risk premiums on crude. The U.S. has imposed severe sanctions on Iranian oil exports, and the region remains sensitive to signs of military tension in the Gulf.

Some experts see the president's latest comments as a signal that Washington is unwilling to make the first move. "Without a deal, Iran could accelerate enrichment, and the U.S. may intensify sanctions — that cycle hurts commodity markets and global supply chains," said a former State Department official with knowledge of the talks.

Attempts to restart diplomacy have faltered in recent months. Mediation efforts by Oman and Qatar have not produced a breakthrough, and a meeting in New York last month failed to bridge gaps. The situation remains fluid.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the timeline of talks. It has been updated to reflect ongoing diplomatic efforts.