Kamali: Initial Fuel for Arak to Be Produced Abroad

Behrooz Kamalvandi, spokesperson for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, referred to the redesign and reconstruction of the Arak reactor within the next five years, stating that the "initial fuel" for this reactor will first be imported from abroad and then produced in Iran. According to the redesign and reconstruction document for the Arak reactor, France will participate in receiving and managing the spent fuel of this reactor. As reported by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, the spokesperson announced on Saturday, November 30, that the redesign of the Arak reactor will take one year and its construction will take more than three years. He added, "In the last two years of this five-year period, we will also start establishing ancillary laboratories... so that by the end of this five-year period, we can complete all tasks including the construction of laboratories and the reconstruction and modernization of the reactor." The heavy water facilities at Arak were a contentious issue between Iran and Western countries, but Iran agreed under the Vienna nuclear agreement to remove the core of the Arak reactor and fill its channels with concrete so that it could not be reused. Under this agreement, Iran will make technical changes to its fuel production lines in Arak with the help of the United States and China to align with the new reactor. The 5+1 countries and Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, have signed a document agreeing to participate in the modernization of this reactor, with commitments defined for each of these countries. According to this document, China will be involved in the design and construction of the modernized reactor, while France will participate in areas such as receiving and managing the spent fuel. Meanwhile, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, described the redesign of the Arak reactor as "complex and technical" and added, "The political part has been completely resolved, and it has been determined how the redesign of Arak will proceed within what frameworks." Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, stated in a letter to the Iranian president regarding the implementation of the Vienna nuclear agreement that action regarding the redesign of the heavy water reactor at Arak and the exchange of existing enriched uranium for yellowcake is only permitted when the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announces the "end" of the investigation into the possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear program. Meanwhile, Kamalvandi announced that a joint meeting between Iran and the IAEA will be held on Tuesday this week in Vienna to finalize the report regarding the possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear program (PMD). Previously, Reza Najafi, Iran's representative to the IAEA, had reported on Friday, November 29, about a technical-briefing meeting of the IAEA regarding Iran, stating that "the agency is in the process of writing the final assessment and will publish its assessment on December 1, 10 Azar." Under a confidential agreement between Iran and the IAEA signed on July 23, ambiguities related to the previous possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear program or "PMD" are to be resolved. Meanwhile, Yukiya Amano, the IAEA Director General, in his latest report, mentioned the completion of actions related to the "roadmap" and announced that he will present his final report to the Board of Governors of the organization under his supervision on December 15.