Iran signals willingness to reduce uranium enrichment

Iran has expressed readiness to lower its uranium enrichment level to 20% if it helps address the concerns of other countries, Admiral Ali Shamkhani, advisor to the Supreme Leader, said in an interview with Al Mayadeen.

Shamkhani emphasised that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and relies solely on national technologies.

He noted that Tehran is prepared to reduce enrichment from the current 60% to 20%, but stressed that “the other side must pay a price in return for this.”

He also revealed a key point about Iran’s stockpile, saying, “The quantity of enriched uranium remains unknown, because part of the stockpile is under rubble, and there is no initiative yet to extract it, as it is extremely dangerous.”

Therefore, Shamkhani said, negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are ongoing “to estimate the quantity while maintaining security and avoiding risk.”

He also reiterated Iran's "readiness for practical negotiations with the United States," but dismissed any talks with Europe.

Earlier reports indicated that Iran has no plans to transfer its enriched nuclear material to any other country after Russia signalled readiness to help Iran in this matter.

By Khagan Isayev