Iran, P5+1 to Discuss Arak Dismantling of Reactor Monday

Sputnik News

19:56 17.12.2015(updated 20:04 17.12.2015)

Iran and the P5+1 group of international negotiators on Tehran's nuclear program will meet on Monday to discuss the dismantling of 'the heart' of Arak Power Plant, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said on Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Last month, Tehran and the P5+1 group agreed that Iran should reconfigure its Arak reactor to ensure that it could not be used to produce weapons-grade plutonium.

'If on Monday the 4th agreement of understanding is signed, the process of removing the heart of the power plant will be launched,' Ali Akbar Salehi was quoted by the Mehr news agency as saying.

The P5+1 negotiators have only fulfilled some of the commitments that are preconditions to the dismantling of the Arak reactor, and Tehran hopes the rest will be fulfilled by Monday, according to the news outlet.

Of the some 20,000 centrifuges at the facility, some 14,000 are expected to be dismantled within a month, Salehi added.

In July, Tehran and the P5+1 group of international mediators, comprising China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States plus Germany, signed an historic nuclear deal on Iran's nuclear program. The deal guarantees the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions' relief.

Under the agreement, Tehran, among other steps, is obliged to reduce its stockpile of low-enriched uranium by 98 percent, to 300 kilograms (660 pounds).

The United States has promised to provide technical support during the Arak reconfiguration project and to evaluate and monitor the fuel and safety standards being applied.

France, the United Kingdom and Germany will inspect the work and safety standards and will supply the necessary equipment. Russia will provide advice, and, if necessary, will inspect the modernized rector.

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