IAEA Says Uranium Could Be Stored in Kazakhstan... Could This Be Trump's Solution for Removing It?

[Financial News New York = Reporter Lee Byung-chul] As the United States and Iran move into the final stage of negotiations over ending hostilities and reaching a nuclear deal, Kazakhstan has signaled that it is willing to store Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The move is being seen as a possible practical alternative to the “removal from Iran” solution demanded by U.S. President Donald Trump. However, Iran has publicly opposed any transfer, so a final agreement is expected to face significant hurdles.
According to the Financial Times (FT) and other outlets on the 29th local time, Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said Kazakhstan had expressed willingness to accept Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Grossi said in an FT interview that he confirmed the position during a meeting this week with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. He noted, "Kazakhstan has an IAEA bank for low-enriched uranium," adding, "There is a place where it can be safely stored."
The main issue now is what to do with Iran's 440 kg of highly enriched uranium, enriched to about 60 percent. It is one of the most sensitive topics in the closed-door talks between the U.S. and Iran.
President Trump has maintained that the material must be taken out of Iran. In a recent post on Truth Social, he said, "Highly enriched uranium must be handed over to the United States immediately, or destroyed on site in cooperation with Iran," adding, "Or it could be handled under supervision at another appropriate location."
He also publicly opposed any plan for Russia or China to take custody of the uranium, saying he would not be "comfortable" with such an arrangement.
Iran has publicly maintained that it will not hand over its uranium stockpile. However, according to negotiation sources, the two sides are considering discussing uranium dilution or overseas transfer as part of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) centered on extending a 60-day ceasefire, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and resuming nuclear talks.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance also said the sides were close to an agreement, while adding, "We are not there yet." He explained that the stockpile of highly enriched uranium remains the main obstacle.
The 440 kg of highly enriched uranium held by Iran is believed to have remained under the rubble after the U.S. bombed the Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan nuclear facilities last year. Experts say that if it were further enriched to about 90 percent, it would be enough to produce roughly 10 nuclear weapons.
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pride@fnnews.com Reporter Lee Byung-chul Reporter