Iran Completes Diluting Stockpile of 20% Enriched Uranium: AEOI Chief

Speaking to Al-Alam news network, Salehi said that by April 12, Iran turned 103 kilograms of its 20 percent enriched uranium to 5-percent grade uranium through dilution process.

He added that Iran intends to keep 20,000 of its centrifuges for four or five years in order to produce 30 tons of nuclear fuel needed for Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.

Iran’s dilution of its enriched uranium is in line with the agreement struck between Tehran and the sextet of world powers in Geneva last year.

Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) in November last year signed an interim deal, known as Geneva Agreement, on Tehran’s nuclear case.

Based on the interim deal (the Joint Plan of Action), the world powers agreed to suspend some non-essential sanctions and to impose no new nuclear-related bans in return for Tehran's decision to suspend its 20% enrichment for a period of six months.

The breakthrough deal, which has come into effect since January 20, stipulates that over the course of six months, Iran and the six countries will draw up a comprehensive nuclear deal which will lead to a lifting of the whole sanctions on Iran.

Salehi further said the issue of Arak Heavy Water Production Plant has been discussed and finalized in the talks between Iran and the G5+1.

He said Iran’s plan for the Arak reactor will not bring any changes to its nature but only predicts reducing its plutonium production to one-fifth (of the current level).

The Iranian nuclear official added that Tehran has presented (to G5+1) its uranium enrichment plans, which include gradual increase of the number of centrifuges in a bid to produce 30 tons of nuclear fuel needed for Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.

Iran and the six world powers wrapped up their latest round of high-level nuclear talks in the Austrian capital, Vienna, on April 9.

There will be a fresh round of high-level talks between the two sides beginning on May 13 in Vienna.