Russia's Lavrov: Willing to store Iran's enriched nuclear material if agreed by US and Iran

Russia's Lavrov: Willing to store Iran's enriched nuclear material if agreed by US and Iran

In a significant development in the ongoing US-Iran nuclear talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has expressed willingness to store Iran's enriched nuclear material if an agreement is reached between the US and Iran. This statement comes amidst the third round of negotiations between Iran and the US, which are currently underway in Oman.

Lavrov's proposal, which was made during a press conference in Moscow, suggests that Russia could serve as a potential destination for Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium. This option would allow Russia to "return the handed-over stockpile of highly enriched uranium to Tehran" if Washington were to violate the deal, ensuring that Iran would not be penalized for American non-compliance [2].

The Russian Foreign Minister's offer underscores the deepening bilateral ties between Moscow and Tehran. Russia has recently pledged to fund the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Iran and signed a $4 billion deal with Iranian companies to develop seven oil fields across the country [2]. These energy deals and expanding nuclear cooperation between Russia and Iran come as the Iranian regime prepares for a third round of nuclear talks with the US in Oman this weekend.

Despite holding the world's second-largest gas reserves after Russia, Iran continues to import gas due to severe under-investment in its energy sector, caused by mounting US sanctions targeting Tehran's oil industry under President Donald Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign [2]. The sanctions aim to cut the country's crude exports to zero and prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Tehran has previously rejected halting its uranium enrichment program, insisting that the country's right to enrich uranium is non-negotiable. However, US special envoy Steve Witkoff has stated that any deal with Iran must require the complete dismantling of its "nuclear enrichment and weaponization program" [2].

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, has confirmed that the country's defense and missile programs are not being discussed during the negotiations in Oman [1]. The talks center on limiting Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions imposed by the US [1].

The US President, Donald Trump, has expressed cautious optimism about the talks, stating that he believes a deal is possible. However, he has also reiterated that military options remain on the table if diplomacy fails [1].

As the negotiations continue, the role of Russia in facilitating a potential agreement between the US and Iran could be significant. Russia's position as a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council and a signatory to the now-defunct 2015 nuclear deal could provide a pathway for a successful negotiation.

References:
[1] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/26/iran-us-resume-talks-in-oman-to-hammer-out-deal-on-nuclear-programme
[2] https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/04/25/russia-fund-new-nuclear-power-plant-iran-bilateral-ties-deepen-amid-us-talks/