US Welcomes Arak Modernization Document
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The administration of the US President Barack Obama lauded the release of a document by Iran and the United Nations (UN) on redesigning Iranian Arak heavy water nuclear plant.
US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner said on Monday, “We welcome the release yesterday of the document outlining the expected roles by all of the participants to the JCPOA in regard to the redesign and reconstruction of Iran's Arak nuclear reactor,” the official website of the US Department of State reported on Monday.
Iran and the UN released two copies of a same document for modernization of the reactor on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
The document has been signed by the foreign ministers of the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), the European Union representative as well as Iran’s foreign minister.
“This document is an important step towards operationalizing Iran's commitments under the JCPOA regarding the Arak reactor, and is one of many that Iran is completing before Implementation Day. That will occur when the IAEA verifies that Iran has completed all of the required nuclear steps specified in the text of the JCPOA,” he added.
Toner said, “This project will redesign and reconstruct the Arak reactor in a way that addresses our proliferation concerns and cuts off the plutonium pathway to enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon. The document released yesterday also lays out a framework for the participants to carry out this technical project, including the expected roles to be played by the participants.”
According to the document, Tehran will assume the position of project manager. China will also participate in the redesigning and construction of the modernized reactor.
The United States will provide technical support and will review the reactor's modernized design.
France, Britain and Germany will also participate in the review. Russia, a major broker of the July 14 deal, will provide consultation in the process.
Tehran and the Group 5+1 on July 14 reached a conclusion over the text of a comprehensive 159-page deal on Iran’s nuclear energy program.
According to part of the deal, Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor is to be reconfigured.
