Iran's Atomic Energy Organization chief Mohammad Eslami stated on October 8, 2026, that Tehran will under no circumstances abandon uranium enrichment or hand over its enriched uranium stockpile, describing such steps as incompatible with its nuclear program. This follows U.S. Vice President JD Vance's call for a "meaningful" reduction in Iran's enrichment capacity as a condition for ending the seven-month conflict and extending the recent ceasefire. Negotiations continue indirectly through intermediaries, with focus on the roughly 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent, much of it reportedly at the Isfahan tunnel complex, where IAEA inspectors have been denied access since prior strikes. Oman-mediated comments suggested possible limits on stockpiling, yet Iranian officials have emphasized retention of enrichment rights under the NPT while reviewing U.S. proposals. These positions shape trader assessments of near-term agreement prospects amid stalled verification and enrichment disputes.