Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei stated on October 20-21 that not a single gram of enriched uranium would leave the country, describing the stockpile as a national asset and conditioning any U.S. talks on prior concessions including sanctions relief and an end to the naval blockade. This stance, reiterated during Pakistan-mediated meetings, directly stalls progress on the core U.S. demand for verifiable limits or removal of Iran's roughly 440 kg of uranium enriched up to 60 percent, much of it uninspected by the IAEA since 2025 strikes damaged facilities. A June memorandum of understanding expired without resolving the issue, leaving downblending under IAEA supervision inside Iran as Tehran's stated minimum while Washington seeks stronger guarantees. Ongoing mediation and potential IAEA access talks represent the nearest near-term catalysts.