Providing fuel for TRR within one year
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, Aug 31, IRNA – Vice president and head of IRI Atomic Energy Organization said Iran has so far produces 25 kilograms of 20% enriched uranium, adding here Monday within one year we would produce fuel for Tehran Research Reactor.
Ali-Akbar Salehi pointing out the importance of manufacturing the required fuel for the TRR, reiterated, “Iran continues its 20% enrichment aimed at producing fuel for Tehran Research Reactor, where medical items are produced.”
In response to a question regarding the future of Iran’s talks with Vienna Group (US, France, Russia, and the IAEA), he said, “We have still gained no official response from them; the reactions reflected in media are unofficial.”
The Atomic Energy Organization chief added, “They are ready to begin the negotiations and we, too, have announced out readiness for negotiations, but unconditionally and in accordance with the Tehran Declaration; therefore, we would keep waiting, which of course does not mean sitting idle, as we would simultaneously keep on producing fuel in Iran.”
Asked if the fuel needed for the TRR would be provided for Iran, would Tehran be ready to discuss halting enrichment at 20% level? Salehi said, “We had declared from the very beginning were not willing to conduct the 20% enrichment and the entire world knows this.”
The Vice president said, “One year ago we wrote a letter to the IAEA regarding the provision of fuel for Tehran reactor, but the governments that were in position to produce that fuel were presenting unacceptable conditions.”
TEHRAN-VIENNA GROUP TALKS TO SAVE WEST’S PRESTIGE
Salehi reiterated, “20 years ago we received the TRR fuel without any preconditions, merely by paying its cost, but today they have filed a fake nuclear dossier, which we are sure is totally politically motivated, based on which the propose unacceptable and illogical conditions, which is why the negotiations were halted.”
He said, “We believe the Vienna Group would begin the negotiations, which is a way out of the stand still and to save the prestige of the west that would all the same be to the benefit of both sides.”
The head of Atomic Energy Organization added, “We began the 20% enrichment because it was urged on us.”
URANIMUM ENRICHMENT, IRAN’S RIGHT
The vice president emphasized, “Uranium enrichment not only at 20% level, but at any grade is Iran’ right and in accordance with the international covenants we have accepted commitment to move in accordance with out rights and to reserve our nuclear rights and those are our nation’s rights, but as we had earlier mentioned we do not intend to keep on producing 20% enriched uranium out of our entire available uranium because we do not mean that much fuel and we only want kit for the TRR.”
PROBABILITY OF CONSTRUCTING ANOTHER SIMILAR REACTOR IN TEHRN
Salehi reiterated, “Iran might construct another similar reactor in Tehran to enable us to produce radio-medicines for the patients, particularly for the cancer patients.”
He said, “We began designing that reactor a few months earlier, but we have not clarified its probability yet.”
IRAN READY TO NEGOTIATE, IF US REDY FOR COOPERATION
A reporter asked whether would enter negotiations with the US if Washington would be willing to cooperate in nuclear field, including in construction of reactors, enrichment and establishment of consortiums?
He said, “Your question is based on a preposition, but if the Americans are ready to negotiate over establishment of joint firms to construct new reactors, or to establish a consortium to produce nuclear fuel we are ready to discuss such matters with them, which is naturally different with political talks, which is the job of the politicians.”
MANUFACTURIGN NEW GENERATIONS OF CNTRIFUGES
Regarding an IAEA official’s last week remarks that Iran has begum installment of a new generation of centrifuges, Salehi said, We have begum manufacturing a new generation of centrifuges for uranium enrichment, but we are still testing, and not manufacturing them.”
The vice president said, “We had earlier announced the news in this regard and it is nothing new.” He added, “We have by grace of God achieved great goals regarding new generations of centrifuges, but presently they are all at research phase now, which might take a week, or three years, till we would reach a stage where mass production would be possible.”
He reiterated, “We have begum injecting UF6 to six of these new generation centrifuges, but that is at test phase, not at industrial level.”
The Atomic Energy Organization chief said, “These include the 2nd and 3rd generation centrifuges, and the capability of manufacturing the next generations, too, would be gained scientifically and at research level.”
RUSSIA AGREED WITH ESMENT OF JOINT FIRM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BUSHEHR REACTOR
The AEO head focusing on details of Iran’s proposal to Russia regarding establishment of a joint consortium to produce nuclear fuel and Russia’s response to that proposal said, “Although we have gained valuable experience in the field, we would rather establish a joint company to enable us to take advantage of the Russians’ experiences in the field, as well, and the Russians have announced their general agreement with the proposal.
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE RUSSIAN ON PRODUCING NUCLEAR FUEL
Salehi said that Iran has a ten year contract with Russia for providing fuel for Bushehr Nuclear Reactor and in addition to that we have entered talks with them on jointly producing fuel, because we have some facilities in Iran and the Russians, to have broad possibilities.”
He reiterated, “We intend to manufacture the fuel under the supervision of the Russians and under their license, and therefore, a part of the fuel’s production can be done in the Russian soil and the rest in Iran.”
The vice president reiterated, “So far the Russians’ response to Iran’s proposal has been positive, but [resenting any comprehensive and final response is in need of more detailed talks and studies in the future and we are waiting for positive signs from the Russians to lead to signing a contract.”
POSSIBILITY OF CONSTRUCTING NEW ENRICHMENT SITES NEXT YEAR
Regarding allocation of new spots for uranium enrichment in Iran, the NEO head said, “Ten spots have been chosen for the purpose, but that does not mean we are in a hurry for beginning the construction work at those sites.”
He added, “All the same, if the president would order, we might begin the construction work at one of them next year, but the initial supposition is that we are in no rush for doing so.”
Regarding the Fordo facilities, the vice president said, “Work is in process at Fordo and everything is going on in accordance with the plans.
HIGHEST SECURITY STANDARDS AT BUSHEHR REACTOR
Salehi said that the Bushehr Nuclear Reactor is among the best reactors in the world in terms of security measures.
Referring to the history and phases of that reactor’s construction, he said, “Construction work of that reactor began in 1974-75 which means 35 to 36years ago, and we can say it is the only reactor in the world whose construction has taken so long!”
The Iranian Nuclear Energy Organization chief added, “Some 80 of the construction work of the Bushehr Nuclear Reactor was completed before the revolution, but after the victory of the Islamic Revolution the German technicians left Iran and then the (Iraqi) imposed war began.”
Salehi said that after the war the IRI government began talks with various countries for completion of the BNR, and finally a contract was signed with Russia in 1992.
He reiterated, “The main contract was signed in 1996 though and another contract in 1998, which means the work began at Bushehr Plant in 1998, which means it took some 12 years to be completed.”
BUSHEHR REACTOR ABOUT TO PRODICE NUCLEAR ELETIRCITY
Salehi said that by grace of God, fueling the Bushehr Nuclear Reactor was done recently and now it is on the verge of producing nuclear electricity, which would begin next month.
FUEL TRANSFER AND THE NI REURN POINT
Salehi said that since the BNR has been fueled, it has reached its no return point and the only remaining job is transferring to fuel rods to the heart of the reactor.
NO PLACE FOR WORRIES ON LEAK OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
Regarding some Arab countries’ expressed worries and the possibility of nuclear and radioactivity stained materials, the vice president said, “As I had earlier mentioned in an interview with Al-Alam Arabic news network, there is absolutely no room for such concerns, because this reactors’ design does not permit the occurrence of such hazards.”
A reporter asked about the Zionist regime’s threats against the BNR and whether technically speaking is any attack against the reactor possible now?
The NEO head said, “There is nuclear fuel in Bushehr Nuclear Reactor now and attacking it is against international regulations and protocols. Furthermore, we had initially announce that no such threat as an Israeli attack against the BNR is possible and President Ahmadinejad had announced they will not dare to do so.”
ATTACKING BUSHEHR REACTOR TO CREATE A CATASTROPHE AT 100S OF SQUARE KMS
Salehi said the structure of the Bushehr Nuclear Reactor is such that if a passenger plane would hit the outer dome of it the reactor would be able to safeguard itself, but of course it would be vulnerable if several tons of bombs would hit it, which would naturally lead to a huge disaster whose dimensions would reach hundreds of kilometers around it, far beyond the Iranian borders, which is quite impossible.”
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