Donald Trump has reportedly rejected an offer from Russian President Vladimir Putin to move Iran's enriched uranium to Russia, according to Axios. The proposal was made during a phone call this week as part of a deal to end the US and Israel's war against Tehran.
The rejection comes amid Trump's recent admission that Putin may be assisting Iran in its military efforts against the US. Speaking to Fox News, Trump said, 'I think he might be helping them a little bit, yeah, I guess, and he probably thinks we’re helping Ukraine, right?'
This contradicts earlier statements from US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, who said Moscow had denied sharing intelligence with Iran. Witkoff and Jared Kushner held a separate call with Putin's foreign policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov, who also denied intelligence sharing.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump and Witkoff told the Russians that if intelligence sharing was taking place, 'It’s not something they would be happy with, and they hope that it is not taking place.'
Reports suggest Russia could earn over $10 billion in additional oil and gas revenues due to Trump's lifting of restrictions on countries buying Russian crude stranded at sea, following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
