Russia announced on Wednesday its readiness to assist in easing tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program by removing Tehran’s highly enriched uranium (HEU) and converting it into fuel for civilian reactors. Moscow described the initiative as a practical step toward bridging the divide between the United States and Iran.
While Iran insists its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes, its accelerated uranium enrichment has raised alarm in Western nations and Gulf states, which suspect Tehran may be advancing toward developing nuclear weapons.
Efforts by the U.S. to revive negotiations aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear activities have faced challenges. In a recent interview, former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed diminished optimism about Iran agreeing to halt its enrichment activities.
The Kremlin disclosed last week that Russian President Vladimir Putin had discussed the issue with Trump during a phone call, emphasizing Russia’s willingness to leverage its close ties with Tehran to support diplomatic efforts.
On Wednesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov reiterated Moscow’s commitment to both political and practical solutions. “We are prepared to assist both Washington and Tehran not only with ideas for negotiations but also through concrete measures—for instance, exporting Iran’s excess enriched uranium and adapting it for reactor fuel,” Ryabkov said in comments to Russian media.
However, he did not specify whether the converted nuclear fuel would be returned to Iran for use in its civilian energy reactors, which Russia has helped develop.
The U.S. has called for Iran to export all HEU, while Iran asserts it will only export amounts exceeding the limits set under the 2015 nuclear accord. Tehran continues to reject the idea of halting uranium enrichment entirely.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reaffirmed Russia’s readiness to act as a nuclear intermediary, stating, “If the parties agree, Russia stands ready to provide this service.”
Although Russia opposes Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, it defends Iran’s right to pursue civilian nuclear energy under the 1970 Non-Proliferation Treaty and condemns any military action against the Islamic Republic as unlawful.
Relations between Moscow and Tehran have strengthened significantly in recent years. Russia has procured weapons from Iran for its war in Ukraine and signed a 20-year strategic partnership agreement with Tehran earlier this year.
The current crisis stems from the United States’ 2018 withdrawal from the landmark 2015 nuclear deal, which had imposed strict limits on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Following the U.S. reimposition of sanctions, Iran expanded its uranium enrichment well beyond the deal’s limits, stockpiling material far in excess of what is necessary for peaceful nuclear energy.
