Kazakhstan Offers to Help Resolve Iran's 440-Kg Uranium Dispute as US Talks Continue
Updated
Updated · 매일경제 · May 27
Kazakhstan Offers to Help Resolve Iran's 440-Kg Uranium Dispute as US Talks Continue
7 articles · Updated · 매일경제 · May 27
Astana said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told IAEA chief Rafael Grossi on May 26 that Kazakhstan is ready to support resolving Iran's nuclear issue if an acceptable international agreement is reached.
The offer lands as Washington and Tehran negotiate how to export and manage about 440 kilograms of 60% highly enriched uranium, one of the thorniest issues in the current talks.
Trump has floated using a third country for the material, saying Iran's enriched uranium should be handed over to the United States and discarded, potentially with local cooperation.
Kazakhstan's role draws weight from its non-proliferation record: it gave up inherited nuclear weapons, joined the NPT, and hosts the IAEA's only low-enriched uranium bank, opened in 2017.
The broader US-Iran agenda spans Iran's nuclear program, Strait of Hormuz security, sanctions relief and frozen assets, while US red lines include ending enrichment, dismantling key facilities and surrendering HEU.
With $100 billion on the line, will Iran's Supreme Leader allow its enriched uranium stockpile to leave the country?
Kazakhstan offers to take Iran's bomb-grade uranium, but can its nuclear facilities actually handle this dangerous material?
Breaking the Deadlock: Managing Iran’s 440kg of 60% HEU—Kazakhstan’s Role and the Path to Nuclear De-escalation
Overview
Iran currently holds 440kg of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, which has become a major concern for international security and a key obstacle in negotiations with the United States. The International Atomic Energy Agency cannot verify the status or location of this stockpile due to lack of access, increasing worries about nuclear proliferation. This lack of transparency has intensified the diplomatic deadlock, as the US demands the removal or destruction of the material, while Iran refuses to export it. The situation highlights the urgent need for a trusted technical solution and greater international oversight to reduce risks and move talks forward.