• Russia has indicated willingness to accept Iranian enriched uranium as part of ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States.
  • Iran and the US conducted their second round of formal negotiations on February 17 in Geneva, with both sides presenting ideas to develop an agreement.
  • Iran has proposed transferring portions of its highly enriched uranium stockpile to Russia as a confidence-building measure, while emphasizing sanctions relief as a non-negotiable priority.

Russia has positioned itself as a mediator in the escalating diplomatic efforts surrounding Iran's nuclear program, with the Kremlin stating that discussions about potentially taking Iranian enriched uranium "have been on the agenda for a long time." The development comes as Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium remains substantial enough to fuel approximately 12 nuclear weapons, according to recent assessments.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi characterized the latest round of talks with US counterparts as "more substantive," noting that both sides presented ideas to develop an agreement and agreed to exchange draft texts. "This does not mean we will be able to reach an agreement quickly, but at least the path toward it has begun," Araghchi said, according to people familiar with the discussions. Planned talks between US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian officials were expected to occur in Turkey, with Qatar and Egypt also being considered as possible venues.

Diplomats cited in recent reporting indicate Iran has proposed specific measures, including transferring some of its highly enriched uranium stockpile to an outside party such as Russia, suspending uranium enrichment for up to three years, and lowering uranium enrichment to 3.67% in exchange for sanctions relief and access to frozen financial assets. A senior Iranian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stressed that any agreement must include sanctions relief as a "fundamental and non-negotiable priority" alongside addressing security threats.

Despite these diplomatic overtures, significant obstacles remain. Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei has rejected US demands for Iran to halt uranium enrichment entirely and limit its ballistic missile program. Meanwhile, a senior Iranian military commander warned that Iran would respond forcefully if its security was threatened, creating a tense backdrop for the negotiations. These talks follow US strikes in June 2025 that paralyzed Iran's main nuclear facilities, with most of the existing highly enriched uranium stockpile now buried beneath the rubble of attacked nuclear sites.

Russia has previously proposed similar arrangements, including in fall 2005 when it suggested Iran end uranium enrichment in return for Russian guarantees to enrich uranium for Iranian nuclear power plants—a proposal Iran rejected at the time. This current proposal represents a revival of longstanding Russian efforts to mediate Iran's nuclear program, with Moscow leveraging its geopolitical influence to facilitate a potential breakthrough.

Iran has agreed to present its draft text within two weeks to address ambiguities in its negotiating position, according to sources close to the matter. The pace of negotiations suggests a phased approach, with officials indicating that substantial agreement would not come quickly. Success ultimately depends on whether Iran and the US can bridge fundamental disagreements over uranium enrichment, with Iran insisting on maintaining some enrichment capability while the US has historically sought complete suspension. Efforts to reach out to Russian officials for additional comment were not immediately returned.