Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected a proposal from Russian President Vladimir Putin to transfer Iran’s enriched uranium to Russia, according to a report by Axios.
According to the U.S. news website, President Trump declined the proposal after President Putin reportedly raised the idea during a phone call. The Russian leader suggested that Iran’s highly enriched uranium could be moved to Russia as part of a step aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East and reducing the risk of a wider conflict.
The report states that the proposal involved transferring Iran’s uranium enriched to about 60 percent. The idea, reportedly put forward by Moscow, was intended to reduce the immediate proliferation risk by removing the material from Iran while diplomatic efforts continue.
Sources cited by Axios claim that Iran currently possesses approximately 450 kilograms of enriched uranium. Experts estimate that such a stockpile could potentially be used to produce material for more than ten nuclear weapons if enriched further to weapons-grade levels. Because of this, Iran’s uranium reserves remain a key concern for both the United States and Israel.
The report also notes that this is not the first time Russia has proposed such a plan. Moscow has reportedly floated similar suggestions in the past as part of diplomatic efforts to manage Iran’s nuclear program. However, Washington has consistently rejected the proposal.
The United States maintains that simply transferring uranium to another country does not represent a permanent or reliable solution to the issue. U.S. officials argue that stronger and more comprehensive measures are required to ensure that Iran cannot develop the capability to produce nuclear weapons in the future.
Washington’s position remains focused on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability altogether, rather than relying solely on temporary arrangements involving the relocation of nuclear material.
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