Mike Waltz: US offered to sell Iran uranium for civilian programme

What Happened

United States Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz stated that the administration of President Donald Trump previously offered to sell Iran uranium for a civilian nuclear programme, provided Tehran agreed to international inspection regimes and non-proliferation obligations similar to the United Arab Emirates' framework. Iran reportedly refused this arrangement, which would have required the country to forgo domestic enrichment and reprocess spent fuel. This disclosure follows a period of heightened conflict, including a 12-day war in June 2025 involving US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, which resulted in the loss of IAEA access to key sites.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The impasse over Iran's nuclear programme remains a central driver of regional instability, exacerbated by the collapse of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and the subsequent military exchanges in 2025. The lack of IAEA oversight at Iranian facilities, coupled with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the threat of further conflict, underscores the breakdown of diplomatic channels between Tehran and Washington.

Watch For

Monitor the status of the Strait of Hormuz following the rejection of Iran's reopening plan, and any further IAEA reporting regarding the agency's continued inability to access Iranian nuclear sites since the June 2025 strikes.