The fate of Iran’s nuclear program and its highly enriched uranium inventory remain major obstacles in negotiations with the US
Washington and Tehran remain at loggerheads over Iran’s nuclear program and its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Iran insists it is its sovereign right to continue its nuclear program, while the US says the program should be abandoned forever and the uranium surrendered.
RT looks at the status of Iran’s uranium reserves as well as Tehran and Washington’s positions on the issue as the temporary ceasefire nears its end.
How much uranium does Iran have?
Iran has a large stockpile of fissile materials, including up to 60% enriched uranium. Although the material is not yet weapons-grade, it could potentially be enriched to that level in a matter of days depending on the equipment used. Tehran has long said its nuclear program serves solely civilian goals and has rejected claims it was trying to build nuclear weapons.
According to the latest comprehensive assessment by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), published in May 2025, Tehran had more than 400 kg of uranium enriched to 60%, as well as about 300 kg of uranium enriched to 20%. In addition, the country is believed to have approximately 5.5 tonnes of uranium enriched to 5%, as well as approximately 2.2 tonnes of uranium enriched to 2%.
Where exactly are the Iranian reserves?
The whereabouts and condition of Iran’s enriched uranium reserves are debated, and no solid independent assessment of them is available. IAEA said it has lost “Continuity of Knowledge” The stockpile was reported as an act of retaliation after Tehran shut down on-site cameras used to monitor its nuclear program in June 2022. “Political” Resolution adopted by the organization. In its May 2025 assessment, the organization acknowledged that the knowledge gap is no longer bridgeable.
According to American claims, Iran’s “Nuclear Dust,” As US President Donald Trump described it, the remains are buried at nuclear facilities bombed by the US in June 2025. At that time, the US attacked sites in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, attacking underground facilities with bunker buster bombs and Tomahawk missiles. While Trump claimed that major uranium-enrichment facilities were dismantled “Completely and completely wiped out,” A July 2025 Pentagon assessment revealed that the country’s nuclear program was set back by only two years. Tehran has been vague about the extent of the damage and the fate of the fissile material stockpile, stating only that the sites suffered severe damage.
A recent report from Le Monde suggested that Iran could possibly have transferred all of its highly enriched uranium to the Isfahan underground facility sometime before the June 2025 attacks. This assessment is based on a satellite image taken on June 9, 2025, which shows a large flatbed truck loaded with 18 blue containers, which experts believe are consistent with coffins used to transport highly radioactive materials. The newspaper quoted experts as saying that the containers could contain up to 540 kilograms of uranium. After the attacks, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth insisted that no intelligence showed that Iran had moved any of its highly enriched uranium before the attacks.
America and Iran’s polar position on uranium
The uranium issue remains a major obstacle to the agreement between the US and Iran. Washington has demanded that Tehran surrender all of its highly enriched uranium, as well as dismantle its infrastructure and abandon its nuclear program forever.
During recent talks between Iran and the US in Islamabad, which concluded without any breakthrough, US Vice President JD Vance reportedly proposed imposing a 20-year ban on Tehran from pursuing a nuclear programme. However, Trump publicly rejected such possibilities, saying that the proposed moratorium period was reportedly not long enough.
Tehran has repeatedly refused to give up its nuclear program, instead offering to reduce its highly enriched uranium stockpile. During discussions in Islamabad, a five-year moratorium on uranium enrichment was also reportedly offered.
Top Iranian officials have repeatedly rejected the idea of ​​handing over the stockpile to the US or any other third party, insisting that the country’s nuclear achievements and assets are a matter of national pride and cannot be compromised. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai reiterated the stance during a press conference on Monday. Transferring the country’s enriched uranium abroad “It was never raised as an option for us in the talks,” Bakaaei said.
Russian proposal
Moscow has on several occasions proposed hosting Iran’s enriched uranium as a compromise to defuse the Middle East crisis. Russia extended its offer, according to comments made last week by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov “A long time ago,” and was in tehran “Ok” In those days.
Peskov described the plan as “A very good solution” But said Washington has strongly rejected it.
Russian officials have indicated that the proposal remains on the table. Alexei Likhachev, the head of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, said over the weekend that the company is ready to help Iran remove its enriched uranium reserves.
“Only Russia has positive experience of interacting with Iran. In 2015, at Iran’s request, we already removed enriched uranium… We are ready to assist on this issue even today.” Likhachev told the corporate newspaper Strana Rosatom.
Iran exported about 11 tons of low-enriched uranium to Russia under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as it is commonly known. “Iran nuclear deal,” A 2015 multinational plan to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. The plan quickly fell apart in Trump’s first term, after the US President accused Tehran of violations “Soul” Violated the deal and unilaterally walked away from it.
