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The United States removed 13.5 kg of enriched uranium from Venezuela in an operation concluded in early May 2026. Understand how it was done.
The government of the United States announced last Friday (May 8, 2026) the successful completion of the removal of 13.5 kilograms of enriched uranium from Venezuelan territory. The material had been stored since 1991 in the RV-1 research reactor, a result of a joint project between the two countries.
The operation, carried out in less than six weeks after the initial visit to the site, involved the participation of Venezuelan authorities, experts from the United Kingdom, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN body responsible for regulating the use of nuclear energy worldwide, according to information from g1.
How the radioactive material removal operation was carried out
The mission was divided into three distinct phases, each with rigorous technical requirements to ensure safety throughout the journey:
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- Packaging: experts packaged the uranium in an appropriate container for nuclear fuel transport, following international safety protocols;
- Land transport: the material traveled 160 kilometers under escort to a Venezuelan port;
- Sea transport: once at the port, the uranium was loaded onto a ship operated by a specialized British company, which transported it to North American territory.
The material arrived in the United States in early May 2026, ending decades of concern over the presence of this stockpile on Venezuelan soil.
Why was the uranium considered a risk?
The RV-1 reactor supported research in physics and nuclear energy for decades. When activities ceased in 1991, the remaining fuel was classified as surplus — and problematic — material.
This is because the uranium was enriched above the 20% limit, considered the maximum threshold allowed by the IAEA for peaceful purposes.
Any enrichment above this range is seen as a violation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), an agreement signed in 1968 and which today has 191 signatory countries, including Brazil.
United States celebrates result and highlights mission’s agility
The U.S. Department of Energy, through its nuclear security division (DOE/NNSA), classified the action as a victory for both countries and for the international community.
Brandon Williams, NNSA Administrator, highlighted the political significance of the operation: “The safe removal of all enriched uranium from Venezuela sends yet another signal to the world of a restored and renewed Venezuela,” he stated.
He also emphasized the speed of execution: “Thanks to President Trump’s decisive leadership, the dedicated teams on the ground completed in months what would normally take years,” said Williams.
Operation serves as a model — and a message — for Iran
Beyond the immediate impact, the mission in Venezuela is read as a demonstration of the operational capability of the United States in a broader geopolitical context.
The Trump administration has publicly reiterated that Iran cannot maintain its stockpile of radioactive material — and that it is willing to resort to military action to remove it, if necessary.
On the other hand, the Iranian case is radically different in scale and complexity. While Venezuela possessed 13.5 kg of enriched uranium above 20%, Iran currently accumulates about 1,000 kilograms in that same range.
Of this total, approximately 440 kg are enriched to 60% — a concentration considered very close to the level needed for the manufacture of a nuclear weapon, which is around 90%.
Therefore, any similar operation in Iran would involve challenges of another magnitude — both technical and diplomatic and military.
With information from g1
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