In reply to a question in his press conference on May 10,, Russian President Vladimir Putin again indicated that Russia would be willing to take Iran’s uranium and to reduce the enrichment. He noted that previously there had been a consensus that Russia would take the enriched uranium and dilute it. ‘Initially everyone agreed, he said “Even the U.S. representatives agreed to that, but then they toughened their position and demanded that it be transferred to the territory of the United States. After that, Iran toughened its position and said they would not transfer the uranium.” Lamenting the loss of Speaker of the Iran Parliament Ali Larijani, who was killed in the U.S.-Israeli bombing, he noted that Larijani had come to him and said “You know, we also have changed our position. Now we are not prepared to send our enriched uranium anywhere. We propose that Russia change the format of the cooperation and establish a joint venture, but on Iranian territory, and there dilute the uranium.” This, however, Putin noted, was not acceptable to either Israel or the U.S.. “That’s exactly what happened, and frankly speaking, we thus reached a dead end.”
He indicated, however, that the Russian proposal was still an option, and that it would secure the oversight of the IAEA in dealing with this issue. “First, everyone would know exactly what materials exist, in what quantity, and where they are located. Second, everything would remain under IAEA supervision. And finally, the process of diluting the uranium would also take place under IAEA oversight, in a transparent and safe manner. For our part, we do not need anything from this. At the same time, we don’t need anything merely to excuse the expression, flex political muscle and claim that nothing can be done without us. We simply want to make our fair share of contribution acceptable to all sides toward easing tensions,” Putin said. “And if this proposal does not suit everyone, then so be it. In any case, we will support any arrangement or solution that helps break the deadlock and opens the path toward a peaceful settlement.”