Tehran, Iran, Oct. 7
By Emil Ilgar – Trend:
Iran and China have started cooperation on the Arak heavy water facility, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said, IRNA reported Oct. 7.
Under the nuclear agreement, achieved between Iran and P5+1 (the US, the UK, France, China, Russia plus Germany) and implemented in January 2016, Iran removed the Arak reactor’s core and a new reactor with minimum plutonium production capacity will be installed there.
Iran also has sold the heavy water produced in Arak during the past years to foreign countries, including the US.
Takht-Ravanchi said cooperation on peaceful nuclear technology with some countries has already started, including the Iran-China cooperation on Arak facility.
Iran has filed a draft containing the entire negotiations with China on redesigning the Arak reactor, which were attended by other 5+1 members, and sent the draft to China for consideration, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrooz Kamalvandi said in July.
Kamalvandi said the works concerning the reactor’s redesign are progressing well and it can be said that a framework has been identified.
“We are now talking over what parts of the job could be carried out by China in cooperation with other members of the sextet [P5+1] and what parts can be done by us,” he said.
Kamalvandi added that the parts of the redesign, which should be carried out by Iran, are being done at a fast pace.