Putin Discusses Iran Uranium Storage Plan With Xi in Beijing

Putin Discusses Iran Uranium Storage Plan With Xi in Beijing

Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed with Chinese President Xi Jinping the possibility of transporting and storing Iran’s enriched uranium in Russia, the Kremlin confirmed on Thursday following the conclusion of bilateral talks in Beijing.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin raised the proposal during closed-door discussions with Xi on Wednesday as Moscow and Beijing reviewed growing tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme and broader Middle East security concerns.

According to Peskov, Russia remains willing to assist in diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing confrontation between Iran and Western powers by offering to temporarily store Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpile on Russian territory.

Russia first floated the proposal in June 2025 and has repeatedly promoted it as a practical confidence-building measure that could help revive stalled nuclear negotiations and reduce fears over Iran’s uranium enrichment activities.

Moscow previously handled the transfer and storage of Iran’s low-enriched uranium under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the international nuclear agreement reached between Iran and world powers.

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Putin has cited that arrangement as evidence that Russia possesses both the technical infrastructure and diplomatic experience needed to manage such a process again if all parties agree.

Peskov said Moscow continues to maintain communication with “all interested parties” and is prepared to continue mediation efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions around Iran’s nuclear activities.

However, the United States has publicly rejected the idea of transferring Iran’s enriched uranium to Russia as part of any future nuclear framework.

Washington has instead continued to push for the full dismantlement or severe restriction of Iran’s nuclear programme under any renewed agreement, arguing that Tehran’s current enrichment levels pose serious proliferation risks.

According to estimates by international nuclear monitoring agencies, Iran currently possesses roughly 450 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity — a level significantly above the limits set under the 2015 nuclear deal and technically close to weapons-grade material if further enriched.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly expressed concern over Iran’s growing stockpile and the pace of its enrichment activities since Tehran gradually reduced compliance with the JCPOA following the United States’ withdrawal from the deal in 2018.

China has generally supported diplomatic engagement with Iran and backed efforts to revive negotiations, although Beijing had not publicly commented on Putin’s latest proposal as of Thursday evening.

Iranian officials also did not immediately respond to the Kremlin’s remarks, though Tehran has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is intended strictly for peaceful civilian purposes, including energy generation and medical research.

The renewed Russian proposal comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and growing international concern over the future of Iran’s nuclear programme as negotiations between Tehran and Western powers remain deadlocked.

Putin Discusses Iran Uranium Storage Plan With Xi in Beijing