With armistice negotiations between the United States and Iran stalled just before a breakthrough, US President Donald Trump has signaled he could accept a plan to dispose of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile inside Iran or in a third country. Iran is pushing for China as that third country while adding the release of frozen assets as a condition for ending the war, piling on demands. Washington has rolled out a carrot-and-stick approach, conducting airstrikes on Iran while continuing to negotiate.
In a post on the social network Truth Social on the 25th (local time), Trump said, "The enriched uranium will be either immediately turned over to the United States and destroyed, or destroyed in place (Iran), or at another acceptable location, with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, or its equivalent, present."
The statement marks a step back from Trump's previous position that Iran must transfer its 440 kilograms of 60%-enriched uranium to the United States. Uranium enriched to 60% has symbolized Iran's potential nuclear weapons capability, as it can become weapons-grade nuclear material with only a slight increase in enrichment.
Saudi Arabia's Al-Hadath reported that Iran is prepared to ship its highly enriched uranium abroad but on the condition that it be sent to China, and that Tehran will demand guarantees from Beijing before concluding negotiations with Washington. Iranian media outlets had earlier reported that designating China as a guarantor country was necessary.
At the same time, Iran is strongly demanding the immediate release of frozen assets as a precondition for negotiations. Iran's Tasnim news agency said, "Failing to immediately release frozen assets would be crossing a red line," adding, "If that happens, there will be no further agreement."
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati reportedly visited Qatar that day to discuss the release of frozen assets. Iran's overseas assets frozen by the United States amount to approximately $100 billion. The Iranian negotiating team's position is that $12 billion of the frozen assets should be released first, and discussions are underway to begin by unfreezing $6 billion (about 9 trillion won) held in Qatar. Tasnim reported, "Iran has insisted that, upon signing the armistice memorandum of understanding currently being negotiated with the United States, $12 billion (about 18 trillion won) must be released and made accessible to Iran simultaneously." Iran has also reportedly demanded that another $12 billion be transferred to it during the 60-day period following the signing of the memorandum, during which the nuclear issue and details of ending the war would be negotiated.
Middle Eastern media have also floated a plan in which Qatar would first transfer funds to Iran, with the United States later reimbursing Qatar. However, the United States is maintaining its position that not a single dollar can be released until it receives substantive and concrete guarantees on the dismantling of Iran's nuclear program and the safety of maritime routes.
With negotiations failing to make headway, the United States and Iran exchanged attacks the same day. According to Reuters, US Central Command said the strikes targeted Iranian vessels attempting to lay mines and missile launchers. Reuters had earlier reported that explosions were heard in several areas, including Bandar Abbas near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also claimed it had fired on and repelled a US RQ-4 drone and F-35 fighter jets.
The Israeli military also intensified bombing of strongholds of Hezbollah, the pro-Iran armed faction in Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley area in eastern Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "In recent weeks, Hezbollah has bombed Israeli military bases stationed in southern Lebanon and northern Israel," adding, "Israel has also formed a special team to respond."
