Overview
- Putin has again offered Russian custody for enriched uranium from both Iran and the United States, a proposal the Kremlin says remains on the table but Washington rejects.
- The Trump administration insists only U.S. control of Iran’s stock is acceptable, while Tehran has shown no willingness to hand material directly to the United States.
- Russia cites its 2015 JCPOA role managing Iran’s low-enriched uranium as precedent, yet today Iran holds roughly 440–450 kilograms enriched to about 60 percent, which carries higher risk.
- The IAEA still faces a verification gap since inspectors were barred in mid-2025 and says removal or down-blending would require a political agreement among the key states.
- Sixty percent enrichment sits close to weapons-grade at roughly 90 percent, which shortens the time Iran would need to reach that level if it chose to escalate.