Russia and Iran are doing everything possible to quickly sign an agreement on removing the enriched uranium from Iran, Mikhail Ulyanov head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department on Arms Control told RIA Novosti.
The work on this issue is going on intensively between Russia's Rosatom and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Ulyanov said.
"There is a common understanding that the exchange of Iranian low-enriched uranium for natural uranium from Russia is a quite difficult task from the technical and organizational point of view," he said.
"We also share the same view with Iran of what will be required to do in order to implement this project. These steps are being taken now," Ulyanov added.
However, he stressed that every effort is being made for the agreement to be signed as soon as possible.
"But there are certain technical aspects to be worked out for smooth cooperation," the diplomat said.
The diplomat also said that Iran's nuclear experts would visit the nuclear centers in the Russian Federation as part of re-profiling the Fordow facility for the production of stable isotopes.
The diplomat said such consultations are envisaged by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action reached in Vienna.
"According to a comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, Russia will contribute to its implementation through assistance to Iran in organizing the stable isotope production at the Fordow facility.
In this regard, in early September, Iranian specialists came to get acquainted with how this work can be organized. We informed the sanctions committee about it, as provided by a comprehensive action plan. All this is perfectly legal and, moreover, very much in demand because it is an important component part of the deal. The process is on," said Ulyanov.
"I think that regarding our national contribution to the implementation of the deal, there will be many contacts in both Russia and Iran," the diplomat said, commenting on the earlier information in the Iranian media about the arrival of the delegation of Iranian nuclear scientists in Russia and their visiting Russian nuclear centers. "Such contacts will probably be needed more than once, because the matter rests in technically rather difficult issues and commercial aspects."
Edited by CN