Updated in: 28 February 2024 - 12:38

Salehi refutes report on nuclear fuel transfer to Russia

Vice-President and head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi has rejected reports on transfer of nuclear fuel by Iran to other countries such as Russia as fabrication.
News ID: 61657
Publish Date: 20November 2014 - 15:00

Salehi refutes report on nuclear fuel transfer to Russia

~Salehi said fuel for Iran's nuclear power plants "will be produced in Iran following signing of an agreement with Russia."

 

He made the remarks in a live televised program on Wednesday evening.

 

Referring to the history of construction of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) in southern Iran with the help of Russia, Salehi said according to President Hassan Rouhani's recommendation, Tehran has "entered into serious talks" with Moscow "for construction of new power plants."

 

As for the BNPP, Salehi said the Russians had said they would supply its fuel for ten years.

 

"Finally, it was agreed that Russia help us meet fuel demands for power plants and that details of the deal would be determined in future agreements."

 

"The Russians will help us build the whole fuel complex or produce fuel components inside Iran and this is a major step and a breakthrough."

 

Salehi added that talks with Russia led to signing of an agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a protocol.

 

Based on Tehran-Moscow Protocol of 1992, Iran and Russia singed a new protocol for construction of two new power plants in Bushehr, Salehi said.

 

Referring to Iran's capability for enriching uranium, the official said fuel for Tehran's Reactor was produced inside the country and production of Arak power plant fuel had been stopped as a result of Iran's nuclear talks.

 

Salehi said that the recent agreement between Iran and Russia for construction of two power plants and the protocol to produce nuclear fuel in Iran "will make our stances stronger in talks with Group 5+1."

 

Reacting to certain reports by Western media about transfer of Iran's produced fuel to Russia , the VP said rumors that Iran agreed to transfer its fuel to Russia or other countries, or is negotiating on the issue, are not correct. "There is no reason to send our fuel to Russia," Salehi stressed.

 

He noted that Iran has no problem to cooperate with Western countries on producing fuel for its power plants.

 

"We have repeatedly announced that we are a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), have signed and implemented its Safeguards Agreement and fulfilled its Additional Protocol, therefore, there would be no reason for us to be exposed to specific regulations," Salehi stressed.

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