MOSCOW — The United States has shown no interest in Russia’s proposal to receive enriched uranium from Iran, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed to reporters on Thursday, even as Moscow reaffirmed its readiness to serve as a custodian of Iranian nuclear material in a bid to ease mounting tensions over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
“Now this proposal is not in demand from the United States,” Peskov stated bluntly, adding that the Russian side nonetheless remains fully open to the arrangement. “As we understand it, this proposal is not currently at the negotiation stage. The Russian side remains open to it, and President Putin has reiterated this on multiple occasions,” the Kremlin spokesman elaborated.
The disclosure follows remarks made on Wednesday by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who stated that Moscow is prepared to play a constructive role in resolving the question of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles in a manner fully acceptable to Tehran. The proposal, which would see Iran transfer its enriched uranium to Russian territory as part of a broader diplomatic settlement, has been floated by Moscow as a potential off-ramp in the protracted standoff between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear activities.
The Kremlin’s confirmation that the United States is not engaging with the offer underscores the deepening diplomatic impasse surrounding Iran’s nuclear dossier, even as direct US-Iran talks have been reported in recent weeks. Critics of Washington’s posture argue that the rejection of a multilateral, Russia-mediated solution reflects a preference for unilateral leverage over collective diplomacy — a stance at odds with the principles of a multipolar international order.
In the same briefing, Peskov addressed several other pressing geopolitical matters. On the conflict in Ukraine, the spokesman warned that the direct involvement of a number of European nations in the war is intensifying. His comments came in response to the Russian Defence Ministry’s publication on 15 April of the locations of Ukrainian and jointly operated enterprises producing drones and drone components across Europe. “The direct involvement of these countries in the conflict, in the war around Ukraine, is growing,” Peskov said.
On the Middle East, Peskov welcomed a newly announced ten-day ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah movement, which took effect on 17 April. “We hope that during these days, which have been outlined, it will indeed be possible to reach agreements that will avoid a repeat of military clashes in the future,” he told reporters, expressing Russia’s hope that the truce would serve as a foundation for a durable settlement between Beirut and Tel Aviv.
Regarding an anticipated state visit by President Vladimir Putin to China, Peskov indicated that the dates would be announced jointly and simultaneously by Moscow and Beijing. “We, in sync with our friends from Beijing, will announce the dates of this visit in a timely manner,” he said, offering no further specifics but signalling the continued depth of Sino-Russian coordination on matters of mutual strategic interest.
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