Nuclear weapon, enriched uranium and Hormuz: Details of US-Iran deal emerge

📌 Summary:

• US President Donald Trump said Washington and Iran have "largely negotiated" a deal, with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) expected that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on a visit to India, said "significant progress, although not final progress" had been made in the negotiations
• The deal is poised to include Iran committing not to pursue a nuclear programme and agreeing to hand over its highly enriched uranium to US authorities
• It is expected to feature a 60-day ceasefire extension during which the Strait of Hormuz - which carries about 20% of global oil supply - would reopen, and Iran would be allowed to sell oil freely under a sanctions waiver
• Iran possesses 441 kg of uranium enriched to 60% purity, just short of the 90% required for weapons-grade material, per the IAEA; part may be diluted and the rest transferred to a third country, potentially Russia
• The deal could also see the US end its blockade of Iranian ports, with the release of Iran's frozen assets to be negotiated during the ceasefire extension

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 (International Relations) - the West Asia conflict and its global economic spillovers, nuclear non-proliferation, and energy security implications for India given its heavy dependence on Gulf oil routed through the Strait of Hormuz.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and carries roughly 20% of global oil supply
• Weapons-grade uranium requires about 90% enrichment; Iran's stockpile is enriched to 60%
• The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) monitors nuclear material and enrichment levels
• Iran reportedly holds 441 kg of 60%-enriched uranium

🔑 Key Term: Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) - uranium enriched to 20% or more in the isotope Uranium-235; enrichment of around 90% is considered weapons-grade.