Iran Delays Start-up of Nuclear Reactor

Iran has postponed the planned start-up of Arak heavy-water nuclear reactor until 2014, the IAEA reported. Arak could yield plutonium for nuclear weapons if the spent fuel is reprocessed, but Iran insists that it plans to use the reactor solely as a nuclear research facility.

“Iran stated that the operation of the IR-40 (Arak) reactor was now expected to commence in the first quarter of 2014,” the IAEA report said. Iran has given no reason for the postponement. (Reuters, 17 November)

India, Israel, North Korea and Pakistan are among countries that operate heavy water reactors to make plutonium for weapons.