Russia Expresses Readiness to Remove Iran’s Enriched Uranium

(MENAFN) Russia has stated that it is ready to take custody of Iran’s remaining enriched uranium if Tehran chooses to allow it, according to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. She emphasized that the material belongs to Iran and that its presence on Iranian soil does not violate the country’s commitments under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Zakharova added that Tehran retains full authority over whether the uranium is removed and where it might be exported.

The announcement comes amid ongoing international efforts to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran. In recent weeks, the United States has deployed additional air defense systems across the Middle East, including Patriot and THAAD batteries, and sent a naval armada led by the USS Abraham Lincoln to the Arabian Sea. While the immediate risk of military action appears to have lessened, the US continues to signal that it has the capacity to respond if necessary. Key US demands remain limitations on uranium enrichment and restrictions on Iran’s ballistic missile program, while Iran insists its nuclear program is purely peaceful.

Reports indicate that diplomacy has been given a renewed opportunity through intensive mediation by Russia, Türkiye, and Qatar. Moscow first proposed last summer that it could remove and reprocess Iran’s enriched uranium, then return it to Iranian nuclear facilities. This proposal was communicated to Iran, the United States, and the International Atomic Energy Agency, but Iranian authorities have not publicly issued a definitive response.

In January, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed that Moscow remains ready to assist in preventing escalation between the United States and Iran, keeping the option to handle Iran’s enriched uranium on the table.

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