Iran will make no nuclear concessions, Iranian official says
Iran says it will make no nuclear concessions even if the US accepts its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. People walk past a billboard about the Strait of Hormuz, on a building in Tehran, Iran, September 16, 2026. Reuters
Iran will show no flexibility over its nuclearprogram even if the United States accepts its proposal to reopen the Strait ofHormuz, which calls for steps including the lifting of a US naval blockade onIranian ports, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Friday.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity,said the waterway would remain closed until “all of Iran’s conditions are met”by the United States.
Under Iran’s proposal, Tehran has offered to reopenthe strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Within seven days, hostilities wouldend on all fronts, including Lebanon, the United Stateswould lift its blockade on Iranian ports, release Iran’s frozen funds and waiveits oil sanctions, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Thursday.
The proposal follows a sharp escalation in MiddleEast tensions after seven months of war between Iran and the United States,with Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen launching missiles and drones atSaudi Arabia.
The strait has become the central bargaining chip inefforts to end the US-Iran conflict, with Iran seeking relief from the USblockade that is choking its economy and Washington seeking free passage forships on the global oil supply route now blocked by Tehran.
In a meeting with journalists on Thursday on thesidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkiansaid he hoped a deal with Washington toend the hostilities could be reached before the US midterm elections on November3.
Tehran said it would be prepared to engage indetailed negotiations over its nuclear program only after its conditions aremet by the US.
But the official said Iran would give no concessionsover its rights, including enriching uranium or shipping its highly enricheduranium out of the country, one of the main USdemands.
Israel, the United States and other Western stateshave long accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, including pointing to itsmove to enrich uranium to 60%, far higher than needed for civilian uses andcloser to the 90% needed for a weapon. Irandenies seeking nuclear weapons.
The International Atomic Energy Agency estimatesthat Iran had 440.9 kg of uranium enriched to 60% when Israel and the USattacked Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025. How much of that has survived is unclear.
Iranian authorities have said that Iran could agreeto dilute its most highly enriched uranium.
In May, Reuters reported that Iran’s Supreme LeaderMojtaba Khamenei has issued a directive that the country’s HEU should not besent abroad, according to two senior Iranian sources.
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