Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov: Russia Is Ready To Provide Its Uranium Depletion Services To Iran

Memri

5 days ago

Amid escalating global tensions over Tehran's nuclear program, Moscow expressed its desire to assist Iran with uranium depletion. Speaking on the results of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7, 2025, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov framed this proposal as a return to principal agreements reached under Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The Kremlin's proposal followed a provocative statement by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who on June 22, said on his Telegram channel that "a number of countries are ready to directly supply Iran with their nuclear weapons."[1] Although the minister's statements are much more cautious and measured, sharply contrasting with Medvedev's tone, Moscow clearly has not abandoned its attempts to remain an important player in the Middle Eastern theatre.
Following is a selection of statements, as provided by journalist Olga Keskin, that Lavrov made at the recent BRICS summit:[2]
"We Possess Such Technological Capabilities – We Are Ready To Provide Them"
"Russia is ready to provide its uranium depletion services to Iran. This was announced by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov by the results of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (Source: Foreign Ministry / Telegram)[3]
"'As for Russia, we are not talking about mediation. Russian President Vladimir Putin recalled that when the Joint Comprehensive Program of Action on Iran's nuclear program was agreed upon, it took into account Russia's ability to provide uranium depletion services (which had accumulated in the Islamic Republic of Iran prior to the passing of this document) to the level necessary for energy purposes in nuclear power plants. Because over the years since the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Program of Action, Iran had no commitment to limit enrichment, but now there are such talks. You have just reminded us that we possess such technological capabilities. We are ready to provide them, taking away the surplus of over-enriched uranium for processing in Russia and later return of energy-enriched uranium to the Islamic Republic for its nuclear power facilities,' stated Lavrov. Naturally [it will happen], according to the minister, provided 'the parties are comfortable with Russia helping to bring their positions closer together.'
"Lavrov noted that 'the Joint Comprehensive Program of Action, which was approved, for which all participants were thanked by the international community, and which was later canceled, was developed with the participation of, among others, the Europeans, the Americans, Russia and China.' 'So, should the main actor – Tehran – express such a desire, we would be eager to step forward,' said the minister.
"The minister also emphasized the fact that the leadership of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) 'must demonstrate accountability for the assessments it issues, [the assessment it] has published in the past, and which were presented to the Board of Governors of the Organization literally a few days before the start of the aggression.'"
"The West... Has Long And Undeservedly Held More Seats [In The UNSC] Than It Should From The Point Of View Of The Balance Of Power"
"These assessments, Lavrov said, were regarded by many as 'ambiguous' and 'the "Western troika" (France, Britain, Germany) seized upon these assessments, introducing a resolution at the UN Security Council that was sharply critical of Iran.'
"A day or two later, an Israeli attack on civilian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards followed. That was, a fairly simple and understandable 'chain,' in which the IAEA Secretariat, willingly or unwillingly, played a well-known role. Therefore, now we believe that the Secretariat must provide guarantees that from now on it will strictly follow the powers with which it is vested, and not try to fabricate some narratives, which are subsequently used for politicization and for promoting of the unilateral interests of individual members,' Lavrov added.
"The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry said that at the current summit 'a lot of attention was paid to the reform of global governance mechanisms,' wherein 'unusually high attention compared to previous years, was paid to the reform of the United Nations.'
"'The text that was agreed upon reaffirms the need to expand the Security Council by overcoming the under-representation of the countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. We are not talking about the West. It has long and undeservedly held more seats than it should from the point of view of the balance of power, the balance of forces in the international arena,' said Lavrov."
"NATO Expansion Didn't Benefit Anyone"
"The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry believes that 'NATO expansion didn't benefit anyone, including the members of the North Atlantic Alliance themselves.' 'There are deepening disagreements there [NATO], sort of a light mutiny on the ship is brewing, as an increasing number of countries want to be guided not by some ideologized attitudes imposed by the host, but by their national interests,' added the Russian foreign minister."