Trump rejected Putin’s proposal to move Iran’s enriched uranium to Russia, insisting it stay secured in place.

In a March 2026 phone call, President Donald Trump rejected a proposal from Russian President Vladimir Putin to transfer Iran’s 60% enriched uranium to Russia as part of efforts to de-escalate the Middle East conflict. The U.S. maintained its position that Iran’s uranium must be secured in place, a stance previously taken and rejected by Iran, which had instead proposed diluting the material domestically under IAEA oversight. The Trump administration is reportedly considering options to secure or seize Iran’s highly enriched uranium, though Trump said no such operation is currently active. Meanwhile, U.S. officials expressed concern over potential Russian intelligence sharing with Iran, and the U.S. is preparing to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid rising regional tensions.