The Federal Government's decision to allow uranium exports to Russia will harm Australia's credentials as a leading international voice against the spread of nuclear weapons, according to the Australian Greens.

Russia maintains the world's largest stockpile of nuclear weapons, is a key part of the Iranian nuclear programme, and has not been visited by IAEA inspectors since 2001.

"The spread of weapons grade material is the dark underbelly of the uranium mining industry," said Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, spokesperson on nuclear issues.

"The very real security and nonproliferation concerns of uranium deals with Russia were spelled out forensically by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) in 2008. The Government has blindly dismissed these warnings.

"Once again the mining industry has been allowed to cut across Australia's broader foreign policy objectives and security interests.

"This is the worst possible decision at a time when nations are working to rid the world of nuclear weapons," Senator Ludlam said.