AP: Beijing weighs taking custody of Iran’s uranium stockpile

China is open to either taking custody of roughly 970 pounds (440 kilograms) of enriched uranium — which President Donald Trump says must be removed from Iran under a potential deal — or reducing its enrichment level, according to a diplomat familiar with Beijing’s position, quoted by AP.

At the moment, it appears Trump wants the U.S. to take custody of the material that is believed to be buried under nuclear sites badly damaged in an American bombardment last June.

But China, which is Iran’s biggest trading partner, is signalling it would be open if asked by Washington and Tehran to take the uranium or down-blend to levels that could be used for civilian applications, said the diplomat who was not authorised to comment publicly and requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.

In 2015, under the Joint Comprehensive Plan for Action, Iran shipped approximately 25,000 pounds (11,000 kg) of low-enriched uranium to Russia to meet an essential requirement to fulfil that nuclear deal.

By Tamilla Hasanova