Iran Insists on Uranium Enrichment Rights and Hormuz Strait Control in US Deal

The Iranian government has asserted its hardline stance on retaining uranium enrichment rights and maintaining full control over the Strait of Hormuz in any peace agreement with the United States. The statement, issued on Friday, came shortly after US President Donald Trump expressed optimism that a draft deal was ready for signing.

According to the official Iranian news agency IRNA, the Islamic Republic stressed that the removal of enriched nuclear material—a key demand of Israel—was not on the agenda. Tehran considers its sovereignty over the nuclear programme and the strategic maritime route as non-negotiable ‘red lines’.

The negotiations follow a period of intense conflict triggered by a US-Israeli attack on Iran on 28 February. While a ceasefire has been in place since April, sporadic violence continues, and Iran has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global chokepoint for oil and gas transit, only allowing passage to vessels with special permits.

President Trump claimed that the highest levels of Iranian leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, had approved the draft agreement, leading him to cancel a planned wave of bombings. However, the conflicting demands—particularly Israel’s insistence on the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure—cast doubt on the imminence of a final deal. Global stock markets rallied on Trump’s optimism, but analysts warn that Tehran’s uncompromising stance on the Strait of Hormuz and enrichment could delay the signing.