U.S.-Iran Nuclear Material Removal Details Pending as War-Ending Deal Nears
Trump administration officials say technical details for removing nuclear materials from Iran still need to be worked out as leaders prepare to sign documents ending the war.
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has yet to finalize how it will remove nuclear materials from Iran following the anticipated signing of documents to end the ongoing war between the two countries, a senior official announced Friday.
The official, speaking anonymously during a White House-organized conference call with reporters, emphasized the complexity of the planned operation. “This is very combustible stuff, very volatile stuff. We’re not just going to, like, go down there with a backhoe and a guy with a backpack and start taking it out,” the official said. “The technical details need to be figured out, but I think there’s a commitment to do that.”
Iranian Official Signals Progress
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi indicated significant progress toward an agreement in a social media post published hours before the U.S. official’s briefing. “A memorandum of understanding with the United States has never been closer,” Araghchi wrote.
The Iranian minister cautioned against premature speculation about the agreement’s contents. “Pending its finalization, the media should refrain from entering speculation about its content,” he stated. “In line with our responsible and transparent approach, all details will be shared with the public in due course.”
Signing Ceremony Expected This Month
The administration estimates an 80% to 85% probability that leaders from both nations will convene sometime this month to sign the memorandum of understanding, with Europe being considered as a possible venue for the ceremony, according to the U.S. official.
These developments follow President Donald Trump’s announcement Thursday that negotiators had “just made a great settlement of the war with Iran” that would be “subject to finalization of documents” over the next few days.
The proposed memorandum of understanding will establish a comprehensive framework addressing multiple issues. The agreement will create mechanisms to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, destroy enriched nuclear materials, and establish inspection protocols to verify Iran does not possess nuclear weapons, the official explained.
Technical Negotiations to Follow
The signing of the memorandum will trigger a 60-day technical negotiation period during which representatives from both countries will develop detailed specifications for actions Iran must complete before the United States lifts economic sanctions.
The official described the process as deliberately structured with verification requirements at each stage, designed to build mutual trust between the two nations throughout the implementation phase.
The war’s impact on regional infrastructure has been substantial, with recent airstrikes damaging transportation networks including the B1 bridge west of Tehran in Karaj, which was destroyed on April 3, 2026.
