Russia Says Iran ‘Successfully’ Progressing with JCPOA Implementation
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Russia’s permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said a recent report by the UN nuclear agency on Iran’s compliance with the JCPOA shows that Tehran is “successfully” advancing on the implementation of the nuclear deal.
In its latest quarterly assessment on Friday since the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in January, the IAEA said Iran “has not pursued the construction of the existing Arak heavy water research reactor" and has "not enriched uranium" above low levels.
Vladimir Voronkov said on Monday that the IAEA’s new report is a sign of the efficiency of the document agreed last year, the Tass news agency reported.
The paper proves that Iran is “successfully advancing” on its implementation of the nuclear deal, he added.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Voronkov said Russia is mulling purchase of Iran’s heavy water.
“To date the Americans have bought a significant amount of it (heavy water). Moreover, Rosatom is thinking and is likely to follow this path,” he said.
According to reports, Washington plans to buy 32 metric tons of heavy water from Iran worth $8.6 million.
Heavy water is used in some nuclear reactors, but is not radioactive.
Under the JCPOA, a lasting nuclear deal between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), Iran is allowed to use heavy water in its modified Arak nuclear reactor, but should sell any excess supply of both heavy water and enriched uranium on the international market.
