Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed storing Iran's enriched uranium inside Russia and personally pitched the idea to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, according to information available to GFdaily. The diplomatic move, if accepted, could reshape how the international community handles Iran's nuclear program.
What the proposal entails
Putin's plan would transfer Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium to Russian storage facilities. The arrangement is meant to reassure world powers that Tehran cannot quickly weaponize its nuclear material, while allowing Iran to continue some enrichment under strict oversight. The proposal was made directly to Xi Jinping, though no details have emerged about the Chinese leader's response.
Russia has long acted as a intermediary on Iran's nuclear file. During the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Moscow helped remove and store Iranian enriched uranium abroad. That deal collapsed after the United States withdrew in 2018, and Iran has since enriched uranium to levels just shy of weapons-grade, according to international inspectors.
Why China matters
Beijing has become Iran's top trade partner and a key buyer of its oil. Xi's support for the Russian proposal could give it the political weight needed to move forward. China also holds influence at the UN Security Council, where any new sanctions or resolutions on Iran would require its backing.
The pitch to Xi suggests Putin is building a parallel diplomatic track outside the stalled Vienna talks. Those negotiations, aimed at reviving the 2015 deal, have made little progress. By bringing China into the picture, Russia may be trying to create a new framework that sidelines the United States and European powers.
Reactions and risks
No official statements have come from Tehran, Beijing, or Washington. The proposal carries risks for all sides. Storing enriched uranium in Russia gives Moscow leverage over both Iran and global nuclear fuel supplies. Iran may balk at surrendering control of its stockpile. China, for its part, must weigh its desire for stability against its strategic partnership with Russia.
Western governments have previously insisted that any new arrangement must include strict monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency. It is not clear whether Putin's plan incorporates such safeguards, or how Iran's enrichment levels would be capped under the proposal.
What happens next
The ball is now in Xi's court. Whether the Chinese leader endorses, modifies, or rejects the idea will determine whether the proposal has a future. The coming weeks will show if Beijing is willing to step into a lead role on Iran's nuclear file — or if Putin's gambit fades into the pile of unanswered diplomatic overtures.
