Putin offered Trump to transport enriched uranium from Iran to Russia
US President Donald Trump rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal to transport Iranian enriched uranium to Russia. This is reported by Axios, citing an informed source. This idea was reportedly discussed during a phone conversation between the politicians on March 9.
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025. Illustrative photo. Photo: AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
According to an Axios source, the Russian side proposed several options to de-escalate tensions between the US and Iran. One of them involved transferring Iranian enriched uranium for storage in Russia. However, Washington did not support this proposal.
An American official noted that a similar idea had been put forward previously, but the US considers it necessary to ensure the control and security of these materials.
The discussion concerned approximately 450 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%. Experts note that with further processing, such material could reach weapons-grade level within a few weeks, and its quantity would theoretically be enough for more than ten warheads.
According to the publication, Moscow raised this topic back in May 2025 during negotiations between the US and Iran on the nuclear program, as well as shortly before the start of the current conflict. In one of the last rounds of negotiations, Iran rejected the idea of exporting uranium and proposed diluting it on its territory under IAEA control. It is unclear whether Tehran is ready to accept such an option now.
The Pentagon stated that it is considering various options for controlling highly enriched uranium. According to department head Pete Hegseth, the US would like Iran to voluntarily hand over its stockpiles, but Tehran has not agreed to this previously.
It was also reported earlier that the US and Israel discussed the possibility of sending special forces to Iran to secure nuclear materials at a later stage of a military operation. The American administration notes that Trump maintains contacts with various world leaders and is open to agreements, but only if they are beneficial to the United States.
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