Iran has agreed in principle to dispose of highly-enriched uranium as part of negotiations with the United States, though a final deal is unlikely to be signed this weekend, a senior Trump administration official said Sunday.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. believes Iran's supreme leader has approved a template for an agreement. However, the process remains slow, and details must still be finalized before any signing occurs. "Even before Operation Epic Fury, the Iranian system was 'frustratingly slow and opaque,'" the official said, adding that it has become even more so recently.
Any final agreement would take several days to move through Iranian channels, the official noted, meaning nothing would be signed immediately even if terms were locked in. The proposed deal follows a two-step process: the immediate opening of the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for lifting the U.S. blockade, followed by talks on a mechanism for Iran to relinquish parts of its nuclear program.
The U.S. is seeking commitments from Iran to dispose of highly enriched uranium and address other nuclear issues. The official described this as an improvement over the 2015 agreement under former President Barack Obama, which permitted nuclear enrichment up to a certain level. Officials continue to work through specifics of the uranium disposal mechanism with negotiators empowered by the supreme leader.
No decisions have been reached on unfreezing Iranian assets, the official said. Any sanctions relief would be tied directly to Iran's delivery on U.S. national security objectives. "I think we're actually in a very good place" for reaching a deal, the official added, expressing confidence that the Strait of Hormuz can be opened while meeting the president's goals on nuclear material.
Vice President JD Vance, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner have all participated in the talks. The U.S. is also seeking involvement from Middle Eastern allies, according to the official.
President Trump stated Saturday that the peace deal is "largely negotiated." One day later, he posted on social media that he had instructed his representatives "not to rush into a deal" and that "time is on our side."
The current situation differs from before the six-week military campaign known as Operation Epic Fury, the official said. Iran is now offering "serious accommodations" on issues it previously refused to discuss. Negotiations are described as being "in a very good place," though a deal to end the conflict likely will not be completed this weekend.
Background on the talks includes the U.S. position that sanctions relief must match concrete steps by Iran. The official emphasized that the administration views the emerging framework as stronger than prior arrangements because it requires disposal of highly enriched uranium rather than allowing limited enrichment.
Details on the exact mechanism for uranium disposal remain under discussion. The official stressed that the Iranian side's approval process is deliberate and that patience is required. U.S. representatives have been instructed to avoid haste despite progress on key points.
Regional allies are being consulted as the talks advance. The involvement of high-level figures such as Vance, Witkoff, and Kushner underscores the priority placed on the negotiations by the Trump administration.
Further developments are expected in the coming days as both sides continue to refine the terms. The official indicated that the focus remains on securing verifiable commitments from Iran on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions adjustments.
Observers note that the two-step structure could allow for quicker de-escalation in the Strait of Hormuz while longer-term nuclear issues are addressed. The official expressed optimism that the current momentum could lead to an agreement meeting U.S. objectives.