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Iran says it runs Fordo N-site in 6 months

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

1390/06/29
09-20-2011
09:40:40
News Code :9006-19328

TEHRAN (ISNA) - The Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said the country would run its nuclear Fordo site by next 6 months.

"Centrifuge machines and installations in Fordo site are being completed and it would be launched in 6 months," Fereydoon Abbasi said in a press conference in Vienna Monday.

"First, I should say that Fordo site is located underground to make it difficult for the US and its accomplices to annihilate it. Their failure in damaging our nuclear facilities is due to the fact that the installations are placed underground," he added.

"We are ready to install and transfer centrifuges into Fordo site. We are not in hurry that much since we have stored sufficient 20-percent enriched uranium and we are trying to expand the lifespan of centrifuges."

Also regarding Iran's possible nuclear cooperation with North Korea, Abbasi said, "We have not needed working with North Korea so far. Our knowledge and know-how have provided us with required capability to carry out nuclear projects domestically."

Abbasi who traveled to Vienna Saturday dawn said on Monday there is no hidden nuclear activity or materials in Iran.

"Iran's years-long nuclear work during its cooperation process with the IAEA as well as reports circulated by the agency's inspectors show there is no hidden activity in Iran's nuclear drive and that visits have come successfully," he told reporters in Vienna Monday after the 55th meeting of the IAEA General Conference.

"Iran's main message for the conference is that atomic energy and its achievements should be equal and impartial for all nations. We reiterated that nobody should possess nuclear weapons."

Abbasi also rejected claims on lack of Iran's cooperation with the IAEA and said, "They are making a mistake and are launching propaganda. Iran's years-long nuclear work during its cooperation process by the IAEA as well as reports circulated by the agency's inspectors shows there is no hidden material in Iran's nuclear drive and visits came successfully. Our nuclear products and materials are under the IAEA monitoring and there is no concealed material in Iranian nuclear activities."

Iranian and Russian officials last Monday inaugurated Iran's first nuclear power plant in the southern Persian Gulf port of Bushehr.

The ceremony was attended by Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and Abbasi, as well as Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko and the Head of Russia's state-run nuclear power corporation Rosatom Sergei Kiriyenko.

The plant uses Russian-made fuel and its nuclear waste is to be returned to Russia. This is the first civilian nuclear power plant in the Middle East.

The tests to be conducted in the plant include switching off the plant's reactor several times to carry out additional tests before gradually increasing output to 50, 75 and finally 100 percent of the total capacity of 1,000 megawatts.