U.S. and Iran Near Deal on Nuclear Material Removal as War Settlement Advances

The Trump administration is still working out the logistics of extracting nuclear materials from Iran after both sides are expected to sign documents ending the conflict, a senior official said Friday.

“This is very combustible, very volatile material. We can’t just send a backhoe and a guy with a backpack to take it out,” the unnamed official told reporters during a White House‑organized call. “The technical details still need to be worked out, but there is a commitment to address them.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted on social media a few hours before the call that a memorandum of understanding with the United States “has never been closer.”

He added, “Pending its finalization, the media should refrain from speculation about its contents. In line with our responsible and transparent approach, all details will be shared with the public in due course.”

The remarks came a day after President Donald Trump announced that negotiators had “just made a great settlement of the war with Iran,” which will be “subject to finalization of documents” in the coming days.

Possible meeting in Europe

The U.S. official said the administration is 80%‑85% confident that leaders of the two countries will meet later this month, possibly in Europe, to sign the memorandum of understanding.

The agreement would set a framework to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, eliminate enriched nuclear material, and establish inspections to ensure Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon.

It will also launch a 60‑day technical negotiation period during which both sides will define the specific actions Iran must take for sanctions relief.

The step‑by‑step process, with verification requirements, is intended to build trust and achieve meaningful results for both Iran and the United States.

“I don’t think the Iranians trust us, and I don’t think the United States trusts the Iranians,” the official said.

Whether Iran can maintain a civilian nuclear program for energy remains uncertain, though the official did not completely rule it out.

“We are not opposed to civilian power plants in Iran,” he said. “What concerns us is the infrastructure that could enable a shift from civilian electricity generation to nuclear weapons development, which has been a longstanding issue.”

Ashley Murray contributed to this report.

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