Salehi: Iran to export 9 tons of enriched uranium to Russia soon

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Dec 19, IRNA -- Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi announced that Iran would export nine tons of its enriched uranium to Russia in the coming days.

'The (nuclear) fuel exchange is going on well; Iran has imported 137 tons of yellow cake from Russia and will export around 9 tons of its enriched uranium to Russia in the next few days,' Salehi told reporters on Saturday.

Responding to a question about Arak heavy-water reactor, Salehi said that Iran is waiting for the endorsement of the fourth document on Arak reactor by the world powers in a bid to ensure that the western countries would fulfill their undertakings.

On November 23, Salehi said that Tehran has signed an agreement with Russia to export 9 tons of its enriched uranium and import 140 tons of uranium ore.

'We will sell the Russians 9 tons of enriched uranium, and we will be paid for enrichment services through receiving raw material and import 140 tons of natural uranium which is a large amount,' Salehi said in an interview with the IRIB.

'The relevant agreement has been signed and we will adopt the needed action in this regard,' he added.

The Russian media have also reported that President Vladimir Putin has ordered adoption of the necessary measures and some good news will be announced about exchange of nuclear fuel in coming days, Salehi said.

In relevant remarks in October, Salehi announced that Iran was conducting final negotiations with Russians in a bid to exchange its enriched uranium in return for natural uranium.

The AEOI chief said that according to the provisions of the accorded nuclear agreement with the six world powers on July 14, an Iranian delegation is in Moscow to finalize nuclear fuel exchange with Russia.

'We have about 9 metric tons of enriched uranium, and we opted to sell this amount in global markets in choosing from two options of deluding or selling; this is a strong advantage of JCPOA for Iran," he added, estimating that the fuel exchange would be possible by next two months after necessary arrangements.

"A second obligation of the nuclear agreement is drafting the official document of reconstructing Arak Heavy Water Complex which would be crystallized in three papers; the first of these three was drafted few weeks ago in Vienna and Iran, the US, and China signed and the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) approved it. The first document identifies obligations of Iran and the Sextet and a general process of implementation," Salehi added.

'The second paper which is called 'understanding document,' has a work division mechanism among 5+1 in reconstruction of Arak Heavy Water Complex. A third and final paper was discussed in Vienna by Iran's nuclear negotiators, and is a parent paper which should be signed; the bill approved by the Parliament as well addresses this issue, emphasizing that at least an official paper should be drafted on Arak Heavy Water Complex and be approved by authorities," he told the program.

Iran and the six world powers held several rounds of talks in Geneva, Lausanne and Vienna before striking a final agreement in Vienna on July 14 to end a 13-year-old nuclear standoff.

After the agreement, the UN Security Council unanimously endorsed a draft resolution turning into international law the JCPOA reached between Iran and the G5+1 over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.

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