A Kremlin representative stated Wednesday that Washington has turned down Moscow’s offer to remove Iran’s entire stockpile of enriched uranium from Iranian territory as part of efforts to address Middle Eastern tensions.
Moscow initially put forward this proposal in June of last year to assume control of Iran’s uranium reserves, though no progress was made at that time. Media reports indicate Russia renewed the offer earlier this week.
“Russia was prepared to accept Iran’s enriched uranium on its territory,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told India Today television, as reported by state news agency RIA.
“This would be a good decision. But unfortunately the American side rejected this proposal.”
American media outlets have cited sources indicating that President Donald Trump’s administration has dismissed the Russian plan. Meanwhile, Iranian officials have stated that any such arrangement would require reaching broader agreements with Washington, particularly regarding Tehran’s nuclear activities.
Washington has pointed to Iran’s enriched uranium reserves and the potential for nuclear weapons development as justification for military actions against Iran.
A Russian deputy foreign minister indicated last year that Moscow was willing to take possession of the stockpile and transform it into fuel for civilian nuclear reactors to support diplomatic efforts.
