{"id":62346,"date":"2026-05-25T18:38:32","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T22:38:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-demands-surrender-of-irans-enriched-uranium-oil-prices-plunge-as-deal-hopes-rise\/62346\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T18:38:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T22:38:32","slug":"trump-demands-surrender-of-irans-enriched-uranium-oil-prices-plunge-as-deal-hopes-rise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-demands-surrender-of-irans-enriched-uranium-oil-prices-plunge-as-deal-hopes-rise\/62346\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump Demands Surrender of Iran\u2019s Enriched Uranium; Oil Prices Plunge as Deal Hopes Rise"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>WTI crude oil prices plummeted nearly 5% to approximately $92 per barrel<\/strong> following President Trump\u2019s announcement of a potential nuclear breakthrough with Iran.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Trump demanded that Iran\u2019s stockpile of 60% enriched uranium<\/strong> (estimated at <strong>440.9 kilograms<\/strong>) either be handed to the U.S. or destroyed under international oversight as a condition for a final peace deal.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Global equity markets rallied sharply<\/strong>, with the <strong>Nikkei 225 jumping 2.87%<\/strong> and U.S. futures climbing significantly despite the <strong>Memorial Day<\/strong> holiday closure.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The proposed framework includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>, a critical chokepoint for roughly <strong>20% of global oil supply<\/strong>, in exchange for lifting the U.S. naval blockade.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Iran has agreed &quot;in principle&quot; to dispose of its uranium stockpile<\/strong>, though negotiators caution that the specific mechanisms for destruction and verification remain the primary hurdles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In a high-stakes move on <strong>Memorial Day<\/strong>, President <strong>Donald Trump<\/strong> announced via <strong>Truth Social<\/strong> that negotiations with the <strong>Islamic Republic of Iran<\/strong> are &quot;proceeding nicely.&quot; The President asserted that any final agreement must involve the immediate surrender or witnessed destruction of Iran&#39;s highly enriched uranium.<\/p>\n<p>Trump specified that the material\u2014which he referred to as &quot;Nuclear Dust&quot;\u2014must either be brought to the <strong>United States<\/strong> for destruction or destroyed in place. This process would require coordination with Tehran and the presence of the <strong>International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)<\/strong> or an equivalent &quot;Atomic Energy Commission&quot; to witness the event.<\/p>\n<h3>Energy Markets React to De-escalation Hopes<\/h3>\n<p>The news triggered an immediate sell-off in energy commodities as traders priced in the potential return of Iranian supply and the reopening of the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>. <strong>West Texas Intermediate (WTI)<\/strong> crude futures fell <strong>4.73% to $92.03 per barrel<\/strong>, while <strong>Brent crude<\/strong> dropped <strong>4.55% to $93.83 per barrel<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Energy-sector equities saw mixed reactions in <a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/movers\/premarket\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Premarket Movers\">pre-market<\/a> and international trading; while lower prices weigh on margins, the prospect of regional stability provided a broader lift. <strong>W&amp;T Offshore Inc (<a href=\"\/stock\/WTI\">WTI<\/a>)<\/strong> and major producers like <strong>ExxonMobil (<a href=\"\/stock\/XOM\">XOM<\/a>)<\/strong> and <strong>Chevron (<a href=\"\/stock\/CVX\">CVX<\/a>)<\/strong> remained under close watch as analysts adjusted forecasts. <em>JPMorgan analysts currently predict an average oil price of $97 per barrel through the end of 2026 if the Strait reopens by June.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Global Markets Rally on &quot;Solid&quot; Deal Prospects<\/h3>\n<p>Despite U.S. cash markets being closed for the holiday, global indices surged on the news. The <strong>DAX<\/strong> in <strong>Germany<\/strong> rose <strong>1.08%<\/strong>, while the <strong>CAC 40<\/strong> in <strong>France<\/strong> climbed <strong>1.07%<\/strong>. In the U.S., <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/indices\/dowjones\/today\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Dow Jones Today\">Dow Jones<\/a> Industrial Average<\/strong> futures added <strong>426 points (0.8%)<\/strong>, and <strong>Nasdaq 100<\/strong> futures gained <strong>366 points (1.2%)<\/strong>, signaling a potential &quot;short-squeeze&quot; rally when markets reopen.<\/p>\n<p>Secretary of State <strong>Marco Rubio<\/strong>, speaking from <strong>New Delhi<\/strong>, indicated that a &quot;solid&quot; deal could be announced as soon as today. <em>Market analysts suggest that the reduction in the &quot;geopolitical fear premium&quot; is driving the rally, though they warn that any collapse in talks could see oil prices rebound swiftly toward $150.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>The Nuclear Stockpile Stumbling Block<\/h3>\n<p>The core of the current deadlock remains Iran&#39;s stockpile of <strong>440.9 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium<\/strong>. This material is currently stored in fortified underground facilities, including the <strong>Isfahan<\/strong> and <strong>Natanz<\/strong> complexes. While <strong>Tehran<\/strong> has reportedly agreed in principle to disposal, it views the removal of the material as a sovereignty issue.<\/p>\n<p>Negotiators are reportedly working toward a <strong>60-day window<\/strong> to finalize the technical details of the disposal. Trump has maintained a hardline stance, stating that the U.S. naval blockade will remain in place until an agreement is &quot;reached, certified, and signed.&quot; <em>The administration\u2019s goal is a deal that is the &quot;exact opposite&quot; of the 2015 JCPOA, focusing on permanent enrichment bans rather than temporary restrictions.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways WTI crude oil prices plummeted nearly 5% to approximately $92 per barrel following President Trump\u2019s announcement of a 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