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The plan for the US to recover uranium from Iran emerged Friday as a bold and controversial step in ongoing negotiations, with U.S. President Donald Trump describing a joint effort to retrieve enriched nuclear material from Iranian sites and transport it back to American soil.

Speaking in a phone interview, Trump painted a vivid picture of cooperation between longtime adversaries—an image as unlikely as two rivals digging side by side in contested ground.

A joint excavation plan takes shape

Trump said the United States intends to work directly with Iran to locate and recover enriched uranium, describing a methodical process involving heavy machinery.

“We’re going to get it together. We’re going to go in with Iran, at a nice leisurely pace, and go down and start excavating with big machinery... We’ll bring it back to the United States,” he said.

His reference to “nuclear dust” points to what he believes remains after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June of last year—a phrase that has become shorthand for buried or scattered enriched uranium.

Uranium stockpile at the center of tensions

Iran is believed to hold more than 900 pounds of uranium enriched to up to 60% purity, a level that sits uncomfortably close to weapons-grade material. The fate of this stockpile has long been one of the most complex and contentious issues in negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

Trump has repeatedly argued that preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon was a central driver behind the recent conflict. Iran, however, maintains that its uranium enrichment program is intended solely for peaceful purposes, such as energy production.

The disagreement remains a geopolitical knot—tight, layered, and difficult to unravel.

Blockade to remain until deal is sealed

Despite signaling optimism, Trump made clear that U.S. pressure would not ease immediately. He said the American naval blockade on Iran would remain in effect until a final agreement is reached.

“I think the deal will go very quickly. We’re getting along very well with Iran,” he said, suggesting momentum in the talks even as core disagreements persist.

Additional negotiations are expected soon, with Trump indicating that further discussions could take place “probably over the weekend.”

Diplomatic steps and regional considerations

Trump also hinted at potential travel plans tied to the outcome of the negotiations, saying he might visit Islamabad if a deal is finalized, though no decision has been made.

At the same time, he noted that U.S. and Iranian teams are cooperating on clearing naval mines from the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz—an effort aimed at stabilizing a region where even small disruptions can send shockwaves through global energy markets.

Denial of cash-for-uranium deal

Addressing speculation about a possible financial agreement, Trump firmly rejected reports suggesting the United States was considering a $20 billion payment in exchange for Iran’s uranium.

“It’s totally false. No money is changing hands,” he said.

The denial underscores the administration’s stance that any agreement will center on security and strategic interests rather than financial incentives.

A fragile path forward

As negotiations continue, the proposal for the US to recover uranium from Iran stands as both a potential breakthrough and a test of trust between two nations long defined by suspicion.

Like an excavation into buried tensions, the process promises to uncover not just nuclear material, but the deeper layers of a conflict that has shaped global politics for decades.