Putin: Russia’s offer to hold Iran’s uranium remains in force

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Moscow’s earlier offer to take Iran’s enriched uranium — if it were removed from the country as part of a future peace deal with the United States — remains in force, as Al Jazeera reports.

Speaking in Moscow at the Valdai forum, Putin said he hoped the Strait of Hormuz would open to international shipping and that sanctions on Iran would ultimately be lifted. The statement comes as Tehran and Washington continue fierce exchanges on the ground, alongside mediation efforts through Qatar.

The Russian uranium offer is seen as one of the possible keys to a diplomatic agreement: removing the nuclear material from Iran would give Washington a guarantee that Tehran is not moving toward a nuclear weapon, while giving Iran a face-saving way out.

Moscow, which has strengthened its partnership with Tehran during the war, is increasingly positioning itself as a mediator between the parties, alongside Qatar and China. Iran has repeatedly stated that its nuclear programme is peaceful, while the West doubts the aims of its uranium enrichment.