The United States would be willing to provide nuclear fuel to Iran if Tehran resolves concerns surrounding its nuclear program, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said, potentially offering a path for civilian nuclear cooperation.
Wright reportedly told Bloomberg that the U.S. could provide Iran with nuclear fuel from outside the country. He tied the proposal to resolving the dispute over Iran’s nuclear activities and said doing so could allow Tehran to reengage with the international community.
The comments come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed to most commercial shipping.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also been unable to fully verify Iran’s nuclear activities and has raised concerns about Tehran’s cooperation with inspectors. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said in a speech Monday that the agency has gone more than six months without in-field verification in Iran.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump warned last week the U.S. could strike Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain site, an underground complex near the Natanz nuclear facility, if Tehran continues activity there.
Wright’s comments also come after he said earlier this month that a new nuclear agreement with Iran might not ultimately be reached.
The offer to supply nuclear fuel could provide Iran with access to civilian nuclear fuel while limiting the need for domestic fuel-cycle capabilities, although Wright did not specify what conditions Washington would require as part of such an arrangement.
The U.S. has maintained that Iran must not develop or obtain a nuclear weapon, while Tehran has repeatedly said its nuclear program is peaceful.
