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Vladimir Putin reiterated this Saturday his proposal to Iran and the United States to store enriched Iranian uranium in Russian territory, in an effort to unblock negotiations regarding Tehran's nuclear program amidst the war that Washington and Israel have initiated against the Islamic Republic.
The Russian leader made the announcement at a press conference following the Victory Day celebrations over Nazi Germany in Moscow, arguing that Russia had already implemented a similar mechanism in 2015 under the Nuclear Agreement (JCPOA), when it transported about 300 kilograms of Iranian uranium enriched to 19.75% from the Fordow plant to the Russian facility in Novouralsk, with the consent of all parties involved, including Israel.
"Our proposal is still on the table. I believe it is a good proposal. If they accept it, Iran can be completely assured that it will be transporting its (nuclear) material to a friendly country," declared Putin.
The Russian leader acknowledged, however, that this mechanism collapsed when the United States took a tougher stance and subsequently Iran rejected the option, opting to store uranium on its own territory. "What is important is to de-escalate the situation, but it seems to me that no one would accept that, neither the U.S. nor Israel. That's how it happened. And the situation in that regard has become stuck, speaking frankly," he admitted.
The proposal comes at a time of maximum tension. The war that the U.S. and Israel initiated on February 28, 2026, with Operation Epic Fury, destroyed between 80% and 95% of Iran's nuclear infrastructure and led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, causing the price of Brent crude to soar from $67 to over $126 per barrel.
According to the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, Iran currently possesses about 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity, approximately 200 kilograms of which are stored in underground tunnels at the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center. Grossi confirmed on Friday that "there is currently no enrichment activity" in the country.
Negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain stalled. Iran presented a 14-point peace plan on May 1, which deliberately excludes nuclear negotiations from the current phase, while the U.S. demands a 20-year moratorium on uranium enrichment and the complete dismantling of the nuclear program.
Iran, for its part, proposes a pause of only five years, although sources indicate a possible agreement point ranging from 12 to 15 years. The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Ismail Bagaei, stated that Tehran is currently studying the latest U.S. proposal.
Putin warned that if the conflict escalates and leads "to an increase in the level of confrontation, everyone will lose," and acknowledged that the situation puts Moscow "in a difficult position" due to its simultaneous ties with Tehran, the Gulf countries, and Washington.
The Russian president added that Russia wishes to continue cooperating with Iran on nuclear energy for civilian purposes, including the Bushehr nuclear power plant on the coast of the Persian Gulf.
President Donald Trump declared on Friday that he expects an Iranian response to the U.S. proposal and did not rule out reactivating military operations in the Gulf if dialogue does not progress. "In my view, there are no longer stakeholders interested in the continuation of this confrontation," Putin concluded.
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