IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said multiple options exist for handling Iran's enriched uranium stock following a new interim agreement with the U.S.
This development marks a potential shift in nuclear non-proliferation efforts, providing a technical pathway to reduce the amount of highly enriched material within Iran's borders.
Grossi said during a press briefing in Vienna on Thursday that the memorandum of understanding signed between Tehran and Washington on the evening of June 17 [1] is very important. He said the agreement opens the door to various options for managing the stock and announced that technical work to implement these solutions will begin.
One prominent proposal involves moving the material outside of Iran. Grossi said Kazakhstan is prepared to host the stock, which is one of the available options [5]. The material in question consists of approximately 1,200 kg of 60% enriched uranium [5].
"There are many options regarding the handling of the Iranian uranium stock," Grossi said [1].
The IAEA intends to play a central role in the diplomatic process. Grossi said the agency will participate in upcoming negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, which are scheduled to take place in Switzerland [3].
These efforts aim to align the handling of the enriched uranium with the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [2]. By establishing a transparent, and safe solution for the stock, the agency seeks to maintain regional and global security [2].
"The memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington is very important and opens the door to multiple options for dealing with the stock," Grossi said [2].
“There are many options regarding the handling of the Iranian uranium stock”
The willingness of Kazakhstan to host 60% enriched uranium suggests a move toward a 'third-party' custodial model to lower tensions. If the Swiss negotiations successfully transition the interim agreement into a permanent arrangement, it could stabilize the non-proliferation regime by removing sensitive materials from the region while providing Iran a face-saving diplomatic exit.
