Trump Demands Iran Hand Over Uranium Stockpiles, Opposes Strait of Hormuz Tolls

Washington/Dubai (CNA) – The United States and Iran today remained at loggerheads over Iran's uranium stockpiles and control of the Strait of Hormuz, dimming hopes for a Pakistani-led effort to end the conflict. Reuters reported that US President Donald Trump said today that the US would eventually acquire Iran's high-enriched uranium stockpiles. Trump told reporters at the White House, "We're going to get it. We don't need it, we don't want it. We'll probably destroy it once we get it, but we're not going to let them have it." Washington believes this uranium would be used to build nuclear weapons, while Iran insists its use is purely for peaceful purposes. Prior to Trump's comments, two senior Iranian sources told Reuters that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had ordered that no enriched uranium be transferred abroad. Trump also criticized Iran's intention to charge fees for using the Strait of Hormuz. Before the conflict, one-fifth of the world's oil and natural gas was transported through the strait. Trump said, "We want it open, we want it free. We don't want tolls. It's an international waterway." Six weeks have passed since the fragile US-Iran ceasefire agreement took effect, but negotiations to end the war have made limited progress. Three sources told Reuters that Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir, a key mediator, might travel to Tehran today for a new round of talks.