Iran launches new uranium enrichment plant under nuclear deal

Iran launches new uranium enrichment plant under nuclear deal
Sat Aug 23, 2014 19:51:02

Iran has launched a new plant for production of uranium dioxide, enriched to below 5-percent purity, as part of a nuclear deal with six world powers.

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi unveiled the project at the Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF) of the central city of Isfahan on Saturday.

“The unit for production of uranium dioxide enriched to below 5-percent [purity] at Isfahan’s UCF has been launched in compliance with the [Geneva] agreement with the P5+1 [group of world powers],” he said.

The official added that the inauguration of the plant proves Iran has respected its obligations.

Salehi stated that the process is part of the nuclear fuel cycle which will be especially used for supplying fuel to Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran.

Under an interim nuclear deal signed between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany last November, Iran undertook to dilute half of its stockpile of 20-percent enriched uranium to five-percent purity and oxidize the other half.

In a new update report on Wednesday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also confirmed that Iran has been complying with the terms of the deal it signed with the six countries of China, Russia, France, Britain, the US and Germany in Geneva.

The report added that Tehran over the last month used about 3.5 kg of its 20-percent enriched uranium in oxide form for manufacturing nuclear fuel.

SHI/SHI

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