Kamali: The Central Pits of the Arak Reactor Filled with Cement

The spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran announced that the 'central section' (calandria) of the Arak reactor was removed on Wednesday and its 'pits' have been filled with cement, which will be verified by inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency on Thursday afternoon. According to the IRIB news agency, Behrouz Kamalvandi stated on Thursday, January 13, that 'one or two hours of minor work' remains to fully implement Iran's commitments regarding this reactor, which 'will be completed today or tomorrow.' He emphasized that 'the practical actions of both sides' outlined in the Vienna nuclear agreement 'have been carried out, and the related written works are underway in Vienna.' Meanwhile, Hamid Baidi-Nejad, the Director General of Political Affairs at the Iranian Foreign Ministry, announced that the final round of negotiations between Iranian experts and the P5+1 countries began on Wednesday in Vienna. He stressed that these negotiations are 'the last station in the long path of negotiations' regarding Iran's nuclear program, which the parties will pass through to reach the implementation day of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated on Wednesday that Iran has informed the United States that the core of the Arak reactor has been removed. On the same day, Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, announced that Mohammad Javad Zarif and Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, will issue a joint statement regarding the implementation of the Vienna nuclear agreement next Saturday or Sunday. The Fars news agency reported on Tuesday, citing 'an informed source,' that the core (calandria) of the heavy water reactor in Arak has been 'removed' and its location has been 'filled' with concrete. Hours after this report, the Atomic Energy Organization announced that some preliminary work regarding Arak has been completed, but no action regarding the removal of the reactor core has been finalized. The redesign and removal of the core of the Arak reactor, along with the reduction of centrifuges at the Natanz and Fordow sites and the exchange of Iran's enriched uranium for raw uranium or yellowcake, are conditions for the start of the implementation of the nuclear agreement with the six world powers. According to the Vienna nuclear agreement, Iran will make technical changes to its fuel production lines in Arak with the help of the U.S. and China to align with the new reactor. The P5+1 countries and Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, have agreed to participate in the modernization of this reactor by signing a document that specifies commitments for each of these countries. According to this document, China will participate in the design and construction of the modernized reactor, while France will be involved in areas such as receiving and managing spent fuel. Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, stated on November 21 that the redesign and reconstruction of the Arak reactor will occur over the next five years, and that the 'initial fuel' for this reactor will initially be imported and then produced in Iran. Under the Vienna nuclear agreement, Iran must also reduce its stockpile of enriched uranium to about 300 kilograms and reduce its centrifuges to 5,060 units. In the early days of January, Tehran sent more than 11 tons of its enriched uranium to Russia and received over 200 tons of yellowcake in return. Officials of the Islamic Republic have also reported in recent weeks that the collection of centrifuges at Iran's nuclear facilities has begun.