Government should enrich uranium to level needed to operate commercial vessels: Iranian MPs

TEHRAN,July 18(MNA) – Members of the Majlis Industry and Mines Committee said that the government should enrich uranium to a level required to operate commercial ships as some countries refuse to sell fuel to Iranian ships in line with Western-led sanctions. “Considering the Western sanctions including the issue of refueling Iranian ships… Iran will replace fossil fuels with nuclear fuel to prevent having to refuel ships on their long journeys,” Allahverdi Dehghani told. To counter sanctions the committee has approved a bill requiring the government to design nuclear-powered merchant ships and provide them with nuclear fuel. MP Mohammad Bayatian backed Dehghani’s proposal. “This bill was approved by the Industry and Mines Committee and it is going to be debated at the open session of the Majlis next week,” Bayatian told the Mehr News Agency on Sunday. Bayatian said the government’s representative at the parliamentary committee agreed with the bill. “In the light of sanctions that the enemies have imposed on our country, the enactment of this bill is a necessity,” Bayatian added. The MP said that the implementation of the plan entails cooperation between the ministries of oil, industries and defense. Despite sanctions, Iranian scientists have succeeded in gaining access to nuclear technology and will also be able to design engines for commercial ships and oil tankers that will use nuclear fuel, he explained.