Iran Proposes Uranium Stockpile Transfer in New Bid to Resolve US Deadlock

Iran has offered to transfer its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 per cent to a third party as part of a fresh initiative to resolve the diplomatic standoff with the US, according to sources familiar with Tehran's position who spoke to The National. The proposed plan involves a phased approach where the material would initially be diluted before being moved out of Iran under mechanisms recognized by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

This third-party transfer goes beyond the public remarks made this week by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who stated that Tehran was ready to dilute its 60 per cent enriched uranium and subject the process to verification. The mechanism expands upon concepts previously discussed during negotiations mediated by Oman.

The offer forms a key part of an Iranian road map presented in New York, which aims to address the immediate confrontation and reopen the Strait of Hormuz before resuming broader talks on Iran's nuclear programme. However, disagreement over the implementation sequence remains a major hurdle, with Iran demanding that Washington fulfill its obligations first—including halting military operations, lifting maritime blockades, and releasing frozen assets—before the Strait of Hormuz is reopened. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Tehran presented a proposal allowing for the reopening of the strait within seven days if specific conditions are met, while Iranian officials await a formal response from Washington.