President Donald Trump told Reuters on Friday that the US would work with Iran to recover its enriched uranium and bring it back to the United States.
“We’re going to get through this together. We’ll go leisurely with Iran, and go down and start digging with big machinery… We’ll bring it back to the United States,” Trump said during a phone interview.
He mentioned “nuclear dust” and said it would be recovered “very soon”.
Trump’s mention of “nuclear dust” is a reference to what he believes remains after the United States and Israel bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities last June.
Iran is believed to have more than 900 pounds of uranium enriched to 60% purity. The issue of Iran’s nuclear program has been one of the most complex issues in US-Iran talks.
Trump has said that the primary reason for the war was to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Iran says enriching uranium, a process that produces fuel for power plants and nuclear weapons depending on its duration, is solely for peaceful civilian uses.
Trump, clearly excited by the prospect of a deal to end the war, said the US would maintain its naval blockade against Iran until a deal is finalized.
He said, “I think an agreement will be reached very quickly. We are working very well with Iran.”
Trump said more talks would be needed to reach an agreement and that talks would take place “probably over the weekend.” He said that once the agreement is reached, he can go to Islamabad.
“I have not decided,” he said.
Trump also said the United States is working with Iran to remove mines from the strait.
Responding to a report that the United States was considering $20 billion in cash for a uranium deal, Trump said: “That is completely false. No money is changing hands.” – Reuters
