Rosatom begins work on project to reconfigure Iran’s Fordo uranium facility - Kiriyenko

VIENNA, September 14. /TASS/. Russia’s nuclear power concern Rosatom has begun preparations for a technical project to reconfigure Iran’s Fordo uranium enrichment facility to the manufacture of stable isotopes, Rosatom’s chief Sergey Kiriyenko said at the 59th session of the general conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency on Monday. "Among the key events I would mention the adoption of a joint comprehensive action plan for settling the Iranian nuclear program issue, as well as the IAEA-Iran road map for clearing up the past and present issues regarding the Iranian nuclear program, Kiriyenko said adding that the IAEA was to bear great responsibility. Kiriyenko said Russia had already started research into the practical issue in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. "We have done large-scale preparation work and a series of negotiations with the Iranian side," he said. "We have been working tightly with the Iranian counterparts on drafting a technical project for reconfiguring the Fordo facility to the production of stable isotopes. Russia will comply with all of its commitments under the JCAP. As TASS reported earlier, a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was agreed in Vienna on July 14, 2015. Iran pledged not to produce weapons-grade plutonium, to have at its disposal no more than 300 kilograms of uranium enriched to 3.67% for a period of 15 years, and to re-configure its nuclear facilities and use them exclusively for peaceful purposes. The UN Security Council’s weapons embargo will remain in effect for a period of five years. The ban on the supply of ballistic missile technologies to Iran will stay for eight years. IAEA experts will be monitoring nuclear facilities for 25 years. Should the terms of the agreement be violated, the sanctions may be resumed. UN Security Council endorsed that plan on July 20. The Vienna plan provides for Russia’s active participation in its implementation. Russian specialists will be involved in reconfiguring the heavy water reactor in Arak (Russia will not play the decisive role in the process, though). Russia will take out of Iran its low-enriched uranium in exchange for natural. In cooperation with Iran it will launch the production of stable isotopes at the Fordo facility. Read more