Iran’s nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami stated in early October 2026 that Tehran will neither halt uranium enrichment nor transfer its enriched stockpile under any agreement, directly addressing U.S. calls for a “meaningful” reduction in capacity to conclude the ongoing conflict. U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have framed such steps as prerequisites for ending hostilities, while indirect talks via mediators continue with exchanged proposals. IAEA inspectors remain barred from key damaged sites including Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan tunnels, leaving the status of the pre-strike 60 percent-enriched material unverified. Russia has reiterated an offer to accept the material only after a deal is reached. These positions underscore the central impasse between U.S. demands and Iran’s insistence on its enrichment rights amid active diplomacy.