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Iran Signals Openness to U.S. Demand on 60% Enriched Uranium Stockpile

According to N12, Iran is considering moving its uranium enriched to 60% to a third country, but no agreement has been reached on which country would receive it.

Summary

N12 reports that Iran is showing unexpected openness to Washington’s main demand in the ongoing nuclear talks: removing its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% to a third country. The report says no agreement has yet been reached on which country would take the material. Uranium enrichment at this level is significant because it is far above civilian-use levels and is closely watched by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA, U.N. nuclear watchdog) and Western governments as part of nuclear nonproliferation efforts.

Terms & Concepts
  • Uranium enrichment: The process of increasing the concentration of uranium-235, a key step in making nuclear fuel and, at higher levels, material with weapons relevance.
  • International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA, U.N. nuclear watchdog): The United Nations agency that monitors nuclear programs and verifies compliance with safeguards.
  • Nonproliferation: Efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons-usable nuclear material.