MP Rules Out Closure of Iran’s Nuclear Sites
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An Iranian lawmaker underscored that the closures of Fordow and Arak nuclear sites are not on the agenda with Tehran’s peaceful nuclear activities, including uranium enrichment, remaining firmly in place.
Iran’s Fordow nuclear site will keep operating, Avaz Heidarpour told the Tasnim News Agency.
The legislator also noted that country’s Arak heavy-water reactor complies with the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) regulations, and stressed that Iran will vigorously press ahead with its nuclear activities.
Iran’s entitlement to uranium enrichment has been “stabilized” following a 2010 conferences of the parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and under the Geneva deal between Tehran and six world powers, Heidarpour explained.
The US and some of its allies, Israel in particular, argue that Iran’s nuclear program might include a military component, urging Iran to suspend its nuclear activities, including the closure of Arak heavy-water reactor.
Iran, however, rejects the allegation, insisting that as a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty there is no law against its use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Tehran also says numerous inspections of its nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have invariably failed to find any diversion towards developing a military capability.
Iran and the sextet of world powers (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) on November 24, 2013, signed an interim nuclear deal in the Swiss city of Geneva.
The breakthrough agreement (the Joint Plan of Action) stipulates that Iran will carry out its enrichment activities under a final, comprehensive nuclear deal in the future.
