Iran calls unloading fuel from nuclear plant "normal"

Iran called unloading fuel from Bushehr nuclear plant "normal.", ISNA reported.

Spokesman and Director General of Public Relations and Information Office of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Hamid Khadem-Qaemi said, "unloading fuel from Bushehr nuclear facility has been exaggerated by some news agencies and reports. The actions taken in the plant are normal."

"Considering talks between (AEOI) Chief Ali Akbar Salehi and Rosatom's Director General Sergey V. Kiriyenko on February 22 during which the two sides agreed on creating more facilities for launch of Bushehr atomic plant, measures taken in the power plant aim at technical inspection to make sure of the reactor's safety," he said on Saturday.

"Making sure of the plant's safety in future and continuous professional cooperation with Russia have priority over hasty operation of the plant," he added.

Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali Asghar Soltanieh said on Saturday that fuel is to be unloaded from Bushehr reactor core for some tests.

This move is done in response to Russia's appeal, which is in charge of completing Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

Replying to the question on the reason of unloading the fuel, Soltanieh said," as Russia has called for undertaking some tests and technical measures, the fuel assemblies are to be unloaded from the reactor core and they will be reloaded after the tests are carried out."

"Since launch of BNPP has been under the supervision of the IAEA, Iran has informed the agency of the issue which fully has the process under its control," he added.

Iran's ambassador to the IAEA stressed that the country has always given priority to the security of the plant according to the world's highest standards.

His remarks came after the IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano released his report on Iran's enrichment program on Friday.

"On February 15-16, the IAEA probed BNPP and verified the nuclear materials of the facilities. On February 23, Iran informed the agency of unloading the fuel from the core of the reactor. Both Iran and the agency agreed on the necessity of safeguard Agreement's terms," the report voiced.