WASHINGTON / TEHRAN, — April 18, 2026 : The United States is engaged in reported negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran over logistical arrangements for the removal of a stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent located at the Isfahan nuclear complex. The discussions include provisions that would allow Iranian representatives to be present during the removal process, according to information attributed to U.S. government sources and reported on April 17, 2026.
The proposed arrangement outlines a framework under which Iranian personnel would observe the handling and transfer of the material, while operational responsibility for the removal would involve U.S. personnel and international inspectors. No official confirmation has been issued by the U.S. government regarding the specifics of the plan.
Equipment and Engineering Considerations
As part of the ongoing discussions, U.S. officials are negotiating the use of Iranian engineering equipment for excavation and access operations at the Isfahan site. This approach would replace earlier plans to deploy U.S. military engineering assets to the location.
The adjustment reflects logistical considerations associated with transporting heavy machinery over long distances into central Iran. The Isfahan nuclear complex includes underground tunnel facilities, some of which sustained structural damage during military strikes in 2025, requiring excavation to reach stored nuclear material.
The uranium stockpile is estimated at approximately 400 kilograms enriched to 60 percent. According to prior assessments by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a portion of this material had been transferred to Isfahan before the strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in 2025. Some of the stockpile is believed to be located within underground sections of the complex.
Airfield Access and Transport Planning
Negotiations also address revisions to air transport arrangements supporting the operation. Earlier planning identified the Shahreza agricultural runway as a potential landing site for U.S. military aircraft. The runway, a dirt strip approximately 1,200 meters in length located south of Isfahan near coordinates 32°13'17.37"N 51°54'3.99"E, was used in a U.S. military operation in early April 2026 involving MC-130J and HC-130J aircraft.
Current discussions indicate that the Iranian Air Force may instead provide access to its 8th Tactical Fighter Base in the Isfahan area. The installation would serve as the primary entry point for U.S. aircraft transporting personnel, technical teams, and inspectors associated with the removal effort. The base has previously been referenced in operational planning related to activities in the region.
Background and Operational Context
The reported negotiations follow military operations conducted against Iranian nuclear facilities in 2025, including strikes that affected infrastructure at the Isfahan site. Subsequent U.S. military activity in April 2026, initially described by the Pentagon as a search and rescue mission involving a downed F-15E airman, occurred in proximity to locations associated with nuclear material storage.
Analysts have noted that the removal of uranium from the site would require specialized procedures. Prior to the 2025 strikes, the material was reportedly stored in gaseous form as uranium hexafluoride (UF6), which requires controlled handling, protective equipment, and technical infrastructure for safe transfer. Damage to underground facilities has added complexity to potential recovery operations.
Iranian Response and Official Positions
Iranian officials have publicly denied all aspects of the reported arrangements. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has stated that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile remains under national control and will not be transferred outside the country under any circumstances.
Tehran has rejected reports of negotiations involving U.S. extraction operations, the use of Iranian equipment for such purposes, or access to military installations for foreign aircraft linked to the effort.
Ongoing Developments
The discussions are part of broader U.S.–Iran engagement following the 2025 military actions targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. U.S. officials have referenced plans involving ground access, excavation, and removal of highly enriched uranium from the Isfahan complex, though detailed operational decisions remain under discussion.
As of April 18, 2026, the reported arrangements remain unconfirmed by official U.S. statements, while Iran continues to publicly deny that any such agreement exists.
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