Monday, August 29, 2011

Iran Will Continue Production of 20-Percent Enriched Uranium

The Move Jeopardizes Russia’s “Step-by-Step” Proposal to Resolve Nuclear Impasse

The Director of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) Fereydoun Abbasi said in Tehran that Iran will continue producing 20-percent enriched uranium in Fordu nuclear plant. Abbasi’s declaration all but ended any hopes for Russia’s latest attempt to restart nuclear negotiations between Iran and major world powers. As part of its “step-by-step” proposal, Russia was believed to push for the revival of a fuel swap agreement whereby Iran would send its 3.5-percent fuel abroad, namely to Turkey, in exchange for 20-percent enriched uranium.

"Producing 20-percent enriched uranium in Iran continues and will not be stopped," Abbasi said on Monday. "By producing 20-percent uranium, we have surpassed the required amount for the production of fuel for Tehran research reactor,” Abbasi added [IRNA, 29 August].

Abbasi said, however, that since Iran’s future reactors need more 20-percent enriched uranium, Iran plans to resume enrichment in Fordu plant. The critics argue that producing the higher-grade enriched uranium at large quantities for reactors that are not even at pre-construction stages would bring into question the goal of the country’s enrichment program.

Earlier this month, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, had characterized Russia’s “step-by-step” proposal as “good strategy.” The approach called for the international community to ease economic sanctions against Iran for each step Iran took toward meeting demands to curb weapon-related projects. The revival of a fuel swap agreement, which in a limited form was the centerpiece of last year's Tehran Agreement between Iran, Turkey and Brazil, was apparently going to be the first of those steps.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gee, as we push ahead on nuclear enrichment and the scale of the program makes a joke out of our statement that we need all this for nuclear medicine....we need some new kind of bullspit story so Abbasi tries claiming Iran has plans to export radio-medicine to the region (IRNA)

blackmanAdam said...

LEAVE IRAN ALONE! LET HER MASTER THE TECHNOLOGY ,IT MIGHT BE A BLESSING TO HUMANITY!!!!

Anonymous said...

There was never any plan to stop.

This is no Shah regim to stop breathing when Patrone USA or Israel or UK calls.

Dariush London

Anonymous said...

Well it seems like the Mullah's are asking for it.

Anonymous said...

LEAVE IRAN ALONE! LET HER MASTER THE TECHNOLOGY ,IT MIGHT BE A BLESSING TO HUMANITY!!!!

Yep agreed will be good for humanity but not cannibals!

b said...

Could you please link to the IRNA piece?

The English version says something different than what this posting claims.

http://www.irna.ir/ENNewsShow.aspx?NID=30542201

"Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Director said on Monday that 20 percent uranium enrichment aims to secure fuel supply for Tehran medical reactor producing radioisotopes for cancer treatment.
20pc enrichment aims to secure fuel supply for medical reactor
Ferydoon Abbassi told IRNA that Iran will not disclose the amount of fuel stock, while IAEA is still keeping the information because we were ensured by IAEA when signing the modality plan in 2007 that the agency will keep the information intact in the agency and will not reveal them to a third party. "

There is nothing in it about having already enough fuel for the TRR and there is nothing in it about enriching beyond what is needed fro the TRR.

Where do those discrepancies come from Mr. Ukowski?

Nader Uskowi said...

I quoted Abbasi based on IRNA’s Farsi report. Press TV also carried that same report in English:

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/196421.html

Below are excerpts from Press TV:

“Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) Fereydoun Abbasi says Tehran will continue producing 20-percent enriched uranium in the country's Fordo nuclear plant.

‘Producing 20-percent enriched uranium in Iran continues and will not be stopped,’ Abbasi said on Monday.

‘By producing 20-percent uranium, we have surpassed the required amount for the production of fuel for Tehran research reactor,’ the head of IAEO said in an interview with IRNA.

Abbasi added that since the country's current and future reactors need more 20-percent enriched uranium, Iran plans to resume enrichment in Fordo plant.”

Abbasi's statements were very clear. I don’t see any problems with our post.

Nader Uskowi said...

b,

Sorry, I guess you also asked for the links to IRNA’s original Farsi reports. IRNA carried the statements in different parts (due to its length).

http://www.irna.ir/NewsShow.aspx?NID=30541728

http://www.irna.ir/NewsShow.aspx?NID=30541561

http://www.irna.ir/NewsShow.aspx?NID=30541925

Why IRNA’s English version was so short and omitted all the major points, I can’t say. You need to address your concerns about discrepancies to IRNA. (But not unusual for Iranian news agencies to offer different versions of news in English, I guess to soften negative reactions that they expect such news might create internationally).

Anonymous said...

Anon August 30 4:27 AM

All those countries you mentioned are the ones that installed the Islamist regime!
So technically speaking those countries are your regimes patron!

You should thank your western bosses instigated coup of 1979!

blackmanAdam said...

Just joking what humanity.

Steve said...

Nader Uskowi writes "Move (by Iran) jeopardizes Russia’s Step-by-Step Proposal".
So what ?
Iran has gone nuclear long ago, and is increasingly using its nuclear ambiguity as a political tool (much like Israel did, until christian-turned technician Mordechai Vanunu revealed the true nature of israeli nuclear ambitions).
If I were Iranian, I most probably would do the same. It is a clever move to do so.
By the way, Russia will anyway soon be out of the game, as Iran doesn't consider Russia anymore to be a reliable partner.

Anonymous said...

That's right Steve and why should Iran have a partner like Russia or come to think of it why should Iran have any partners at all! After all they are a "independent" country and have mastered all the known technology on this planet so who needs the world!!

All this fascist theocracy need to do now is build the roof above the country and keep it air tight
true independence.