A general view of the Arak heavy-water project, 190 km (120 miles) southwest of Tehran January 15, 2011. REUTERS/ISNA/HAMID FOROOTAN/FILES
Iran has removed the core of its Arak heavy-water nuclear reactor and filled it with cement, according to the country's official news agency Fars.
The fate of the reactor was one of the toughest sticking points in Iran's long nuclear negotiations last year.
Under the terms of the deal, Iran agreed the heavy-water reactor would be reconfigured so it was not capable of yielding material for a nuclear weapon.
The removal of the core is one of the final steps required by the deal.
WNU Editor: The Iranians are in a rush to get sanctions relief .... Iran said to be ‘7 days’ from seeing benefits of nuclear deal (The Hill) .... some US Senators are not .... Key Dem 'concerned' by delay in Iran sanctions (The Hill)
More News On Iran Removing The Core From Its Arak Heavy Water Nuclear Reactor
Core of Arak Heavy Water Reactor Taken Out by Iran -- FARS News Agency
Iran removes core of Arak heavy water nuclear reactor: Fars -- Reuters
Report: Iran removes core from nuclear reactor -- CBS
Iran removes core of Arak reactor, looks to sanctions relief -- Times of Israel
Reports that Iran has removed core of Arak nuclear reactor -- i24news
Iran removes core of Arak nuclear reactor -- Arutz Sheva
3 comments:
I found it surprising that Iran even entered into a nuclear deal although during the process they made it look as if they were actually in charge. Now to be shutting down facilities, although a natural process in "de-escalation" is even more interesting. To be so obstinate during the negotiations especially given the effort expended in the development of nuclear capacity and considering the impact of sanctions, suggested to me at the time that they were smug because they have the "bomb" and are smart, like Israel to not broadcast that accomplishment.
They didn't play the Israel has a bomb card which was surprising, which to me supports that.
Bob,
The Iranians were "stubborn" on the negotiations, because this deal effectively rewrites and codifies the NPT into a three tier treaty,
One set of rules and requirements for the Official and Unofficial Nuclear Weapons club including proliferation and technology shareing,
One set of rules for the most "Favoured Nations", including technology sharing up to and past the Threshold Status,
And one set of highly intrusive and restrictive rules for the "Least Favoured Nations", which deny's them the right to an idiginous Nuclear Power Program and leaves them as a reliant Client State of one of the "Big Five".
The NPT was supposed to result in de-proliferation and disarmenent and prevent proliferation by open "shareing" of the Peaceful Atom.
The US/India Nuclear Deal and the 5+1 Agreement completely gut the NPT.
These 7 or so days before sanctions are partially or fully lifted for Iran will be very interesting. I suspect that the Saudi's, the Israeli's and others will not be too pleased to see Iran back in the world economic community. As CCR sang, I see a bad moon rising, I see trouble on the way.....
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