By Dalga Khatinoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19. Trend:
The head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi said that Iran's 20 percent-refined uranium will meet the fuel needs of the Amirabad reactor for the next four years, Fars News Agency reported on Dec.19.
According to the report, Salehi said that Iran had not intended to produce 20 percent enriched uranium from the beginning, but the West's refusing to supply Iran with nuclear fuel led to the start of domestic production.
The idea of exchanging 1,300 kg of Iran's law-enriched uranium with 20 percent-enriched nuclear fuel goes back to 2009.
According to this plan which was supported by IAEA, Iran should transfer its 5 percent-enriched uranium to Russia and get 20 percent-refined nuclear fuel from France, or other fuel producers to use in Tehran's Amirabad nuclear reactor.
After several months of negotiations and the mediation of Turkey and Brazil, Iran and P5+1 group still couldn't agree about the plan.
The International Atomic Energy Agency released a report in mid-November, putting Iran's 20 percent-enriched uranium stockpile at 196 kg, saying Iran hasn't added to its stockpile in the last three months.
After Iran and P5+1 reached an agreement on November 23, Iran committed to suspend producing 20 percent-enriched uranium for six months.
Salehi said that the latest nuclear deal between Iran and six powers is not contrary to Iran's national interests and secures Iran's rights based on the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Iran's top nuclear official added that Iran hasn't had any intention of building a nuclear weapon, and attempts to convince others and eliminate the concerns about this issue.
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