President Donald Trump denied that the United States was giving any money to Iran in exchange for its stockpiled enriched uranium.
On Friday morning, Axios cited two U.S. officials and two additional sources briefed on the talks between the U.S. and Iran who claimed that Washington was considering releasing $20 billion in frozen Iranian funds in exchange for Tehran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. Hours later, Trump said in a post on Truth Social that there would be no exchange of money for Iran’s uranium.
“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,” he said, with “Dust” referring to Iran’s stockpiled uranium, much of which is presumed to be buried as a result of U.S. and Israeli strikes.
Friday morning saw several major developments in peace talks with Iran, with Trump announcing in another Truth Social post shortly after that the issue of mines in the Strait of Hormuz was being dealt with.
“Iran, with the help of the U.S.A., has removed, or is removing, all sea mines! Thank you!” he said.
Retreading his grievances with NATO, Trump took the opportunity to bash the alliance once again, saying he had denied its offered help in opening the Strait of Hormuz.
“Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would need some help. I TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO LOAD UP THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL. They were useless when needed, a Paper Tiger!” he wrote.
TRUMP AND IRAN ANNOUNCE STRAIT OF HORMUZ ‘COMPLETELY OPEN’ FOR REST OF ISRAEL-LEBANON CEASEFIRE
Negotiations around Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile are one of Washington’s top priorities, and the sources speaking with Axios stressed that negotiations were ongoing. The “cash for uranium” proposal was allegedly made by U.S. negotiators, but is apparently disfavored by Trump.
The report said that current negotiations are focused on finalizing a three-page memorandum of understanding, with some of the main sticking points related to Iran’s nuclear program.