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Jan 20, 2026

Iran Said It Possesses Enough Uranium For 11 Nukes: Report

U.S.

–Iran Nuclear Talks Collapse After Tehran Insists on Uranium Enrichment

Negotiations between the United States and Iran reportedly fell apart after Iranian representatives made it clear they intended to continue enriching uranium at levels that could potentially be used for nuclear weapons, according to Steve Witkoff, a senior envoy for Donald Trump.

Speaking during an interview on Fox News, Witkoff described a tense moment during the discussions when Iranian negotiators asserted what they called their “undeniable right” to enrich uranium. According to him, the statement immediately raised concerns among the U.S. delegation.

Witkoff said he and Jared Kushner exchanged surprised glances when Iranian officials began the negotiations by firmly defending their enrichment program.

“They made it very clear from the start that they believed they had every right to enrich all the uranium they possessed,” Witkoff said.

U.S. Proposal Rejected

American negotiators quickly pushed back against Iran’s position. Witkoff explained that the U.S. side argued it had the authority to demand a complete halt to Iran’s uranium enrichment activities. However, Iranian officials refused to reconsider their stance.

According to Witkoff, the talks reached a breaking point when Tehran rejected a U.S. proposal that would have frozen uranium enrichment for ten years. Under the plan, Washington had offered to provide Iran with nuclear fuel at its own expense.

“That’s when it became obvious to us that they had no intention of stopping enrichment,” Witkoff said.

Iran Reveals Size of Nuclear Stockpile

During the negotiations, Iranian officials reportedly disclosed details about their nuclear material stockpile. Witkoff said two members of the Iranian delegation confirmed they possessed approximately 460 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity.

Experts note that uranium enriched to that level is only a short technical step away from weapons-grade material.

Witkoff added that Iranian negotiators acknowledged the amount could theoretically be converted into as many as 11 nuclear weapons, a revelation that stunned the American delegation.

“They weren’t trying to hide it,” Witkoff said. “In fact, they seemed proud of it.”

He also claimed that Iranian officials boasted about their ability to avoid international monitoring systems while expanding their uranium reserves.

Heated Exchange in Geneva

Tensions escalated further during a meeting held last Thursday in Geneva, where Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly raised his voice after the U.S. delegation once again demanded a decade-long halt to enrichment.

Despite the outburst, Witkoff said he remained calm during the exchange.

“I told him that if he preferred, I could simply leave,” Witkoff recalled.

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