Iran says it hears Russia’s proposal to take its enriched uranium
In short
Iran’s foreign ministry said Tehran has heard Russia’s proposal to export its stockpiles of enriched uranium but will decide on the basis of its national interests, spokesman Esmail Baghaei said at a briefing. Baghaei said Iran would act in coordination with Russia and China on nuclear issues, and that Iranian experts are discussing a possible exit from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while Tehran remains a party for now. Removing enriched uranium is one of Washington’s main demands on Tehran, and President Vladimir Putin proposed taking the material to Russia.
Read the full story 2 min read
Iran’s foreign ministry said Tehran has heard Russia’s proposal to export its stockpiles of enriched uranium, but will decide on the basis of its national interests. Spokesman Esmail Baghaei told a briefing: “We are in contact with Russia and hear the proposal, but I should note that ultimately we must take decisions on the basis of national interests,” Kommersant reported, citing TASS. [ 1 , 2 ]
Baghaei also said Iran would act in coordination with Russia and China, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, on nuclear programme matters “under any development”. [ 2 ]
The spokesman said there is serious discussion in Iranian expert circles about the possibility of leaving the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. “Iran... has come under attacks. If a country is a member of the NPT, it must be able to enjoy its rights,” he said, adding that for now Tehran remains a participant in the treaty. [ 2 ]
Removing enriched uranium is one of Washington’s main demands on Tehran, and President Vladimir Putin proposed exporting the existing stockpiles to Russia, according to Kommersant. The Russian scheme envisages processing rather than a simple handover: Russia would receive Iranian uranium enriched above the level needed for nuclear power plant fuel, after which the material could be returned to Iran’s civilian nuclear energy facilities. The Russian side also allowed that it would take on the enrichment of the material and its commercial sale, Kommersant reported. [ 2 ]
Kommersant said the arrangement is intended to take account both of Iran’s wish to retain the right to enrich uranium on its own territory and of its opponents’ concern over stockpiles enriched above the level required for power plant fuel. It added that transferring the stockpiles abroad in that case separates control over the most sensitive material from Iran’s right to continue nuclear activity. [ 2 ]
The publication also recalled that on 18 May, Al-Hadath claimed Iran had agreed, under certain conditions, to hand enriched uranium to Russia instead of the United States. Neither document indicates that Iran has reached a decision. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The proposal concerns Iran’s stock of uranium enriched above the level needed for power-plant fuel, the material its opponents worry about, so Tehran’s answer would shape a nuclear dispute in which the United States, Russia and China are all involved. The documents also record discussion inside Iran about leaving the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, a step that would affect the treaty itself. Both outlets describe positions and a scheme, not an agreement, so the practical effect is still open.
Key facts
- Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Iran hears Russia’s proposal to export enriched uranium but will decide on the basis of national interests. [ 2 ]
- Baghaei said Iran would act in coordination with Russia and China, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, on nuclear programme issues “under any development”. [ 2 ]
- Baghaei said there is serious discussion in Iranian expert circles about possibly leaving the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, but that Tehran remains a participant for now. [ 2 ]
- Removing enriched uranium is one of Washington’s main demands on Tehran, and President Vladimir Putin proposed exporting the existing stockpiles to Russia. [ 2 ]
- The Russian scheme envisages processing rather than a simple transfer: Russia receives Iranian uranium enriched above the level needed for power-plant fuel, after which the material may be returned to Iran’s civilian nuclear facilities. [ 2 ]
- Russia also allowed that it would take on the enrichment of the material and its commercial sale. [ 2 ]
- On 18 May, Al-Hadath claimed Iran agreed under certain conditions to hand enriched uranium to Russia instead of the United States. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether Iran will accept the proposal to export its enriched uranium. No decision was announced; Baghaei said only that any decision would rest on national interests.
- Where and when the Iranian foreign ministry briefing took place. Neither document states a location or a briefing time beyond the outlets’ publication times.
- Al-Hadath’s 18 May claim that Iran agreed under certain conditions to transfer enriched uranium to Russia rather than the United States. Reported by Kommersant as an earlier claim by another outlet, with no confirmation in these documents.
- Whether Iran will withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The documents describe expert discussion only and say Tehran remains a participant.