In an interview with Al Monitor, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said that “the whereabouts of Iran’s near-bomb-grade uranium stockpiles remains unknown.”

“We would be prepared to transfer our stockpiles of 60% and 20% enriched uranium to another country and have them transferred out of Iranian territory in return for receiving yellowcake,” Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani told Al-Monitor in a written interview.

Iravani said Tehran is open to the idea of a regional nuclear consortium, which is a concept raised during US-Iran discussions, but emphasized it should not replace Iran’s domestic nuclear program.

Moreover, Iravani stated that Iran is prepared to cooperate with regional countries operating nuclear reactors on matters such as reactor safety and fuel supply, provided such efforts serve as a “complementary initiative” rather than a substitute for its own nuclear development.

“A consortium could very well be one of the forms such cooperation might take,” Al-Monitor quoted Iravani.

“In principle, we have no objection to that; however, we should consider it based on the details of any potential proposals we receive.”

According to US media reports, Washington had floated the proposal for a nuclear consortium prior to the recent conflict, potentially involving Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and the United States.