US President Donald Trump said China has agreed not to send weapons to Iran. (AP file photo)
US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran has agreed to hand over “nuclear dust” that was buried by last year’s US airstrikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities, a claim that, if accurate, would be a significant step in US efforts to reduce Tehran’s ability to produce a nuclear weapon.
There was no immediate confirmation from the Iranian side that it had made the concession in talks with Americans and their Pakistani interlocutors as a two-week ceasefire nears its expiration Tuesday.
#WATCH | US President Donald Trump says, "…The big thing we have to do is we have to make sure that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon, because if they do, you want to talk about problems, you'd have problems. It is very important that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon, and… pic.twitter.com/c2rp3tVJkQ
Previous US claims about Iranian nuclear commitments have turned out to be inaccurate or have fallen through.
Trump also expressed confidence in the broader situation, pointing to economic indicators. “If you look at the stock market, it’s up… everything’s doing really well,” he said, before returning to the nuclear issue as the central concern.
He said Iran had agreed to return the buried material following US strikes. “They’ve agreed to give us back the nuclear dust that’s way underground because of the attack we made with the B-2 bombers,” Trump said. “So we have a lot of agreement with Iran, and I think something’s going to happen very positively.”
What is ‘nuclear dust’?
“Nuclear dust” is Trump’s term for highly enriched uranium that, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, remains buried at sites struck during US operations.
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The material is a key point of concern for Washington because it could potentially be used to build nuclear weapons. Its presence has been a central issue in talks with Tehran.
Before the ceasefire, Trump had asked the US military to examine options for retrieving the material from inside Iran without its consent, a plan officials described as complex and risky.
Talks continue, no deal yet
US Vice President JD Vance held talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad last weekend, but no agreement was reached.
The two sides have continued to exchange messages since then. Trump said another round of in-person talks could take place “probably, maybe over the weekend”.
“Iran wants to make a deal, and we’re dealing very nicely with them,” he said, adding that Tehran is now more willing to compromise.
Limits on Iran’s nuclear programme
Restricting Iran’s nuclear activity remains central to negotiations. Under a 2015 agreement during Barack Obama’s administration, Iran accepted limits on uranium enrichment.
After the US withdrew from the deal, Iran expanded its programme, including enrichment to higher levels. Iran maintains its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes.
While a renewed pledge not to build nuclear weapons may not represent a major shift, handing over enriched uranium stockpiles would be seen as a more concrete step.
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Military option and risks
Officials say any attempt to seize the uranium by force would require a large-scale operation inside Iran, potentially involving thousands of troops and significant risk.
Diplomats have long argued that a negotiated settlement is more practical than a military approach. Ceasefire and risk of renewed conflict
Trump warned that fighting could resume if talks fail. “If there’s no deal, fighting resumes,” he said, underlining the fragile nature of the ceasefire.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army chief Asim Munir have been involved in diplomatic outreach. A Pakistani official said extending the ceasefire could help “create space for peace talks”.
Despite some movement, major differences remain, including limits on uranium enrichment and broader security demands.
For now, both sides signal willingness to continue talks, but with the ceasefire timeline approaching, uncertainty remains.
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US President Donald Trump said China has agreed not to send weapons to Iran. (AP file photo) 
