Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly proposed that Iran’s enriched uranium be transferred to and stored in Russia, raising the idea during discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the proposal was among the topics discussed during Putin’s recent visit to China.
The proposal is not entirely new. Moscow has previously suggested taking custody of Iran’s enriched uranium as part of efforts to address concerns surrounding Tehran’s nuclear program. Russian officials have pointed to a similar arrangement under the 2015 nuclear agreement, when Russia helped handle Iranian nuclear material.
Supporters of the idea argue that placing the uranium under international oversight in Russia could help reduce tensions and lower the risk of further conflict in the Middle East. However, the proposal remains controversial, with some Western officials expressing concerns about Russia serving as the custodian of such sensitive nuclear material. Reports indicate that the United States has previously rejected the proposal, and no agreement has been reached on implementing it.
For now, the initiative remains a diplomatic proposal rather than a concrete policy. Any transfer of Iranian uranium would require acceptance by both Tehran and Washington, as well as agreement on monitoring and security arrangements. There has been no indication that a final deal is imminent, and discussions over Iran’s nuclear program continue to face significant political and diplomatic hurdles.
