Iran prepares for start of landmark N-deal
21 Jan 2014 5:05 AM IST
Ahead of the start of a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, an official in the Islamic Republic called limiting uranium enrichment and diluting its stockpile the country’s ‘most important commitments,’ state radio reported Sunday.
The comments by Behrouz Kamalvandi, a spokesman of Iran’s atomic department, show how the government of moderate President Hassan Rouhani welcomes the deal, which begins on Monday. International inspectors also already have arrived in Tehran, preparing for the government opening its facilities to them.
‘Implementation of mutual commitments in the framework of the Geneva deal will begin from tomorrow,’ Kamalvandi said. ‘Under the agreement, suspension of 20-per cent enrichment of uranium — and the diluting of the current stockpile of enriched uranium — are the most important commitments of our country.’
Iran struck the deal in November with the so-called P5+1 countries — Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. Negotiators agreed to final terms of the deal 13 January.
Under the agreement, Iran will limit its uranium enrichment to 5 per cent — the grade commonly used to power reactors. The deal also commits Iran to stop producing 20 per cent enriched uranium — which is only a technical step away from weapons-grade material — and to neutralize its 20 percent stockpile over the six months. In exchange, economic sanctions Iran faces would be eased for six months. Senior officials in U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration have put the total relief figure at some $7 billion.
During the six months, negotiations between Iran and the world powers would continue in hopes of reaching a permanent deal. The West fears Iran’s nuclear program could allow it to build an atomic weapon. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, like power generation and medical research.
On Saturday a team of international inspectors arrived in Tehran in preparation of beginning their inspections. They will visit Fordo, where Iran enriches its 20 per cent uranium, as well as its Natanz facility, which produces 5 per cent enriched uranium, to ensure the country complies with the deal.
Kamalvandi said Sunday that Iran will use centrifuges now producing 20 per cent enriched uranium to instead produce 5 per cent enriched uranium to comply with the agreement.
But suspicions remain high in both Tehran and Washington after decades of hostility dating back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran that ousted the U.S.-backed shah dynasty. Rouhani, Iran’s new reformist president, has reached out to the West, but must depend on support from Iran’s top decision-maker.
The comments by Behrouz Kamalvandi, a spokesman of Iran’s atomic department, show how the government of moderate President Hassan Rouhani welcomes the deal, which begins on Monday. International inspectors also already have arrived in Tehran, preparing for the government opening its facilities to them.
‘Implementation of mutual commitments in the framework of the Geneva deal will begin from tomorrow,’ Kamalvandi said. ‘Under the agreement, suspension of 20-per cent enrichment of uranium — and the diluting of the current stockpile of enriched uranium — are the most important commitments of our country.’
Iran struck the deal in November with the so-called P5+1 countries — Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. Negotiators agreed to final terms of the deal 13 January.
Under the agreement, Iran will limit its uranium enrichment to 5 per cent — the grade commonly used to power reactors. The deal also commits Iran to stop producing 20 per cent enriched uranium — which is only a technical step away from weapons-grade material — and to neutralize its 20 percent stockpile over the six months. In exchange, economic sanctions Iran faces would be eased for six months. Senior officials in U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration have put the total relief figure at some $7 billion.
During the six months, negotiations between Iran and the world powers would continue in hopes of reaching a permanent deal. The West fears Iran’s nuclear program could allow it to build an atomic weapon. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, like power generation and medical research.
On Saturday a team of international inspectors arrived in Tehran in preparation of beginning their inspections. They will visit Fordo, where Iran enriches its 20 per cent uranium, as well as its Natanz facility, which produces 5 per cent enriched uranium, to ensure the country complies with the deal.
Kamalvandi said Sunday that Iran will use centrifuges now producing 20 per cent enriched uranium to instead produce 5 per cent enriched uranium to comply with the agreement.
But suspicions remain high in both Tehran and Washington after decades of hostility dating back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran that ousted the U.S.-backed shah dynasty. Rouhani, Iran’s new reformist president, has reached out to the West, but must depend on support from Iran’s top decision-maker.
Next Story
