Diplomats: Iran to Receive a Large Shipment of Natural Uranium

The Associated Press reports in an exclusive article citing diplomats that "Iran is set to receive a large shipment of natural uranium in exchange for exporting several tons of heavy water reactor coolant from Russia. This decision has been approved by the U.S. government and other countries that wish to maintain the nuclear agreement with Iran." Two senior diplomats told Reuters that the transfer of this natural uranium, which will be about 130 tons, has been confirmed by the U.S. and five other global powers. However, its transfer still requires formal approval from the United Nations Security Council, but given that the countries involved in the nuclear negotiations with Iran are members of this body, its approval is largely ceremonial. Natural uranium can be enriched to various degrees for use as nuclear fuel for reactors, for medical and research purposes, and even for nuclear weapons production. The Iranian government claims it has no interest in producing nuclear weapons and has accepted full international oversight of all its nuclear activities to ensure their peaceful nature, as per the nuclear agreement with the international community. In 2015, during negotiations that ultimately led to the nuclear agreement, Iran received a similar shipment of natural uranium from Russia in exchange for sending its enriched uranium to that country. However, this new shipment is the first natural uranium that Iran will receive after signing the nuclear agreement. Western diplomats, whose main responsibility is to focus on Iran's nuclear activities, declined to have their names mentioned in this report due to sensitivities regarding comments on the confidential aspects of this program. Their conversation with the Associated Press took place ahead of a meeting of representatives from Iran and the five global powers that is set to be held in Vienna in the coming days. The agenda for this meeting is to review Iran's performance in fulfilling its commitments regarding the lifting of foreign sanctions in exchange for limiting its nuclear programs. Reports indicate that the agreement on the transfer of natural uranium from Russia to Iran is taking place under sensitive conditions. Given that the upcoming U.S. administration and many of its lawmakers criticize the nuclear agreement with Iran and do not trust Iran's commitments to keep its nuclear programs peaceful, they may view the uranium transfer as another example of giving excessive concessions to the Iranian government. Diplomats say that each instance of natural uranium transfer to Iran will be under the close scrutiny of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which oversees the implementation of the nuclear agreement's provisions, for the next 25 years. They add that Iran has not yet specified what it will do with this uranium. However, it could store it or enrich it to a low level for use as reactor fuel. Considering that the period of restrictions and controls on Iran's nuclear programs will end in less than 10 years, this natural uranium could represent a significant amount if Iran chooses to store it. David Albright, director of the Institute for Science and International Security, which typically advises the U.S. Congress on Iran's nuclear program, stated, "Depending on the efficiency of the enrichment process and nuclear weapon design, this volume of natural uranium could be used to produce ten simple nuclear bombs." The transfer of this natural uranium is in exchange for the export of about 77 tons of heavy water from Iran to the U.S., Russia, and Oman since the implementation of the nuclear agreement. Heavy water is used to cool reactors that produce more plutonium. Plutonium, like enriched uranium, can also be used to produce nuclear weapons. In this context, intensive negotiations between Tehran and Moscow are underway for the transfer of enriched uranium to Russia, with "9 tons" of Iran's enriched uranium expected to be transferred to Russia in the coming days. Kamalvandi: The holes in the central section of the Arak reactor have been filled with cement. The changing battlefield of "proxies"; the war against the people in the streets of Iran. The first paragraph; the responsibility of the opposition and the possibility of radicalizing Iranian society. The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iran crisis. 1300 hours of internet outages; Witkoff: A horrific massacre occurred during the protests in Iran. The shadow of war over Tehran; "Trump is looking for decisive military options against Iran." The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iran crisis. Trump emphasizes "stopping executions in Iran": We do not know what will happen in the future. Trump says if the Islamic Republic attempts to assassinate him, "it will be wiped off the face of the earth."