Iran 1st Developing Country to Sell Enriched Uranium, Heavy Water: AEOI Chief


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran has become the first among 130 developing countries in the world to put two strategic nuclear products ,namely enriched uranium and heavy water, up for sale, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi said.

Addressing an open session of the Iranian parliament on Tuesday, Salehi assured the lawmakers of the country's "very great achievements" regarding technical issues in nuclear talks with world powers.

He also stressed that Iran made greater strides regarding the technical issues during the most recent round of nuclear talks in Vienna than in a previous round in Lausanne.

Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) concluded more than two weeks of intensive talks over Tehran's nuclear program in Vienna on July 14. The negotiating parties reached a conclusion over the text of a comprehensive 159-page nuclear deal.

Elsewhere in his comments, Salehi said Iran will have one of the world's most advanced reactors after redesigning and completing the Arak heavy-water reactor in 5 to 6 years.

"With the construction of the Arak modern reactor, we will not need any new reactor, and this achievement is one of the major successes… we could achieve in Vienna," he added.

After wrapping up marathon talks in Austria, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the conclusion of negotiations has opened up an opportunity for Iran to enrich uranium for commercial purposes.

"According to the plans, Iran is scheduled to move towards more advanced nuclear industry and commercial (uranium) enrichment," Zarif had announced.