Trump Demands Iran Surrender Uranium Stockpiles and Accept Total Enrichment Ban in Islamabad Talks

U.S. negotiators led by JD Vance seek a permanent ban on Iranian uranium enrichment and the removal of all nuclear stockpiles in upcoming 2026 peace talks.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 10, 2026, 1:10 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)

The Ultimate Mandate for the Islamabad Delegation

As a U.S. delegation led by Vice President JD Vance prepares for high-stakes negotiations in Islamabad, the Trump administration has established a "zero-tolerance" framework for Iran's nuclear future. Following a month of precision strikes that crippled Iran’s military industrial base, President Trump is demanding a permanent settlement that ensures the complete and verifiable neutralization of Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Negotiators are tasked with securing a deal that includes no "sunset clauses," effectively seeking a perpetual end to Iran’s status as a threshold nuclear state.

Recovering Nuclear Material from the Rubble

The immediate priority for the U.S. team—which includes special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—is the physical recovery and removal of Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles. Currently, an estimated 970 pounds of uranium enriched to 60% purity remains entombed within damaged facilities at Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in June. This quantity is technically sufficient to produce approximately 11 nuclear weapons if further refined. The U.S. is demanding a firm timetable for multinational experts to enter these ruins with heavy machinery to extract and export this material.

Drawing a Red Line on Domestic Enrichment

A significant point of friction remains the Iranian regime’s insistence on a "right" to civilian nuclear enrichment. The Trump administration has signaled that this is a non-starter, viewing any enrichment capability as a latent "breakout" threat that could be exploited once the current U.S. term ends. Washington’s position is a total and permanent ban on uranium enrichment, requiring Iran to source all fuel for medical or energy purposes from international providers under strict IAEA oversight. This demand seeks to close the technical loophole Tehran has previously used to justify its centrifuge program.