Arak Reactor Redesign Going as Planned

EghtesadOnline: The project of redesigning and upgrading the heavy water reactor facility in Arak, Markazi Province, in cooperation with China and Britain is going as planned, according to a Chinese diplomat.

News ID: ۷۴۹۶۶۲

10 February 2020

China’s Ambassador in Tehran Chang Hua also said in an interview with ISNA that Beijing has fulfilled all its commitments, but the future of the project also depends on the other countries involved.

"We hope that with the support of the international community, we will be able to complete the project," Financial Tribune quoted him as saying.

Under the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, Iran agreed to redesign the Arak research reactor to cut its potential output of plutonium.

China and the United States initially formed a working group to assist Iran in modernizing the facility, but Britain later replaced the US after Washington pulled out of the deal in 2018.

The US recently renewed its waivers on Iran’s nuclear work, allowing Russian, Chinese and European companies to continue their work at several Iranian nuclear sites.

The 60-day exemptions allow nonproliferation work to continue at the Arak heavy-water research reactor as well as the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, Tehran Research Reactor and other nuclear cooperation initiatives.

The Chinese diplomat described the waivers as "meaningless" because the US has already exited the nuclear pact.

He, however, said the exemptions might be of help to the other countries involved.

"This project does not need China alone, but Britain also plays an important role and some equipment need to be purchased from European countries," he said.