Trump says Iran 'agreed to everything' on uranium as Tehran contradicts him within hours

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Friday, April 17, said that Iran had accepted sweeping terms in ongoing talks with Washington, including cooperation to remove its enriched uranium stockpile.

But within hours, Tehran publicly contradicted that claim, saying its nuclear material would remain under Iranian control.

The competing statements highlight how uncertain the reported negotiations remain, even as Trump projected confidence about a possible breakthrough.

Trump rules out US troops in uranium operation

Speaking in a phone interview with CBS on Friday, Trump said Iran had “agreed to everything,” including working with the United States on the handling of enriched uranium.

He suggested the material would eventually be transported to America and insisted no US troops would be required for the process.

“No. No troops,” Trump said when asked whether American forces would be involved. “We’ll go down and get it with them, and then we’ll take it.”

He added that US personnel and Iranian officials would jointly oversee the operation once a final agreement was in place.

“Our people, together with the Iranians, are going to work together to go get it. And then we’ll take it to the United States,” Trump said.

The president also claimed Iran had agreed to stop supporting regional violent groups.

Trump said another round of talks was expected over the weekend and indicated that the US blockade pressure would remain in place until negotiations were completed.

When asked about reports that Washington was considering releasing billions in frozen Iranian assets in exchange for nuclear concessions, Trump dismissed the suggestion.

“No, we are not paying 10 cents,” he said.

Iran publicly disputes uranium transfer claim

Iran’s government soon pushed back against Trump’s version of events.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran had not agreed to send its uranium to another country and rejected the idea of any transfer to the United States.

“Iran’s enriched uranium is not going to be transferred anywhere,” Baqaei told state television.

He added that transferring uranium to the US “has not been an option for us,” directly contradicting Trump’s remarks.

Iran is estimated to hold over 900 pounds of uranium enriched to around 60% purity, a level close to weapons-grade and a central sticking point in US - Iran nuclear negotiations.

Earlier, in a separate post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump wrote, “Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again. It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World!”