Russia Proposes Removing Iran’s Enriched Uranium to Avert Crisis

Russia has reiterated its willingness to remove enriched uranium from Iran, a move it says complies with international non-proliferation obligations, as diplomatic efforts intensify to ease tensions between Tehran and Washington.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed the offer on Wednesday, stating that any Iranian enriched uranium present in Russia would remain Iran’s property. “Their presence in no way contradicts Tehran’s obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,” she said, emphasizing Iran’s right to decide on the material’s removal and destination.

The proposal emerges against a backdrop of heightened militaryposturing. The United States has deployed additional Patriot and THAAD air defense systems across the Middle East and sent an aircraft carrier strike group to the Arabian Sea. While Washington has indicated an immediate military strike is less likely, it maintains the capacity to respond and continues to demand stringent limits on Iran’s uranium enrichment and ballistic missile activities—requests Tehran rejects, insisting its nuclear program is peaceful.

Diplomatic channels, mediated primarily by Russia, Türkiye, and Qatar, are now seen as the primary path to de-escalation. Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida reported a renewed chance for talks following intensive shuttle diplomacy. Russia first floated its uranium removal plan last summer, proposing to reprocess the material and return it to Iranian nuclear facilities. The idea was shared with Iran, the U.S., and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), though Iran has not issued a public definitive response.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated in January that Moscow remains prepared to assist in preventing escalation between the U.S. and Iran. The current Russian focus underscores a concerted effort to offer a verifiable, technical measure that could build trust and create space for broader negotiations, addressing core U.S. concerns about Iran’s nuclear capabilities without requiring an immediate political settlement.

The significance of Russia’s overture lies in its potential to address a key proliferation risk—Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium—through a transparent, third-party mechanism. As both sides retain hardline positions, such concrete steps may be essential to sustain the diplomatic window and avert a deeper crisis. The coming weeks will likely determine whether this technical proposal can translate into a political breakthrough.