US, Iran weighing ‘face-saving’ uranium transfer deal: report

Russia, China, Turkey, and Pakistan are reportedly being discussed as possible transfer destinations.

By World Israel News Staff

A proposed “face-saving” deal regarding Iran’s stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium could allow both the United States and Iran to claim victory, with Tehran potentially transferring the material to countries such as Russia, China, Turkey, or Pakistan before it is eventually handed over to the U.S., according to a new report.

A source with direct knowledge of the discussions told the New York Post that Iran is currently weighing a proposal that would require it to surrender its estimated 1,000 pounds of enriched nuclear material, though not directly to the United States.

“We are trying to land on language that allows both sides to save face, and that’s how deals like this are done,” the source told the Post.

“The president would still ideally like it to eventually wind up with the United States, but there are interim options being discussed as well. [And] they could turn into permanent options,” the source added.

Another option reportedly under discussion would see Iran significantly dilute the uranium so that it could no longer be used to produce a nuclear weapon.

Under that arrangement, Iran would be permitted to retain the material inside the country. According to the source, Iran’s nuclear facilities were so heavily damaged during Operation Epic Fury that Tehran would not be able to secretly re-enrich the uranium to weapons-grade levels in the foreseeable future.

The source said details regarding that possible arrangement would likely be addressed after the signing of an initial extended ceasefire agreement that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The dilution of enriched uranium is “one of the things that is going to be worked out in the second track,” the source told the Post.

“I don’t think they want to hand it over — [and] the biggest thing is they don’t want to hand it over to the United States directly.”

Shortly after the Post published the official’s comments, Trump appeared to confirm key elements of the report in a post on his Truth Social account.

“The Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Dust!) will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, in conjunction and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place or, at another acceptable location, with the Atomic Energy Commission, or its equivalent, being witness to this process and event,” Trump wrote.