Iran, Kazakhstan Discuss IAEA Fuel Bank Cited in JCPOA
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s nuclear chief and Kazakh minister of energy in a meeting in Vienna discussed the subject of Iran’s sale of its excess enriched uranium to a fuel bank belonging to the IAEA, located in Kazakhstan and mentioned in a nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.
Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi met Kazakh Minister of Energy Vladimir Shkolnik on the sidelines of the 59th Annual Regular Session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference, held at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) in Austria on Sunday.
Highlighting friendly ties between Tehran and Astana, Salehi and Shkolnik stressed the need for the expansion of relations in the energy field.
They also discussed the subject of an IAEA fuel bank that Iran can choose -under a comprehensive nuclear deal with the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany)- to sell its excess enriched uranium to.
The bank is located in Kazakhstan.
Iran and the six powers (also known as the P5+1 or E3+3) finalized the text of the lasting agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program in Vienna on July 14.
According to the JCPOA, “All enriched uranium hexafluoride in excess of 300 kg of up to 3.67% enriched UF6 (or the equivalent in different chemical forms) will be down blended to natural uranium level or be sold on the international market and delivered to the international buyer in return for natural uranium delivered to Iran. Iran will enter into a commercial contract with an entity outside Iran for the purchase and transfer of its enriched uranium stockpile in excess of 300 kg UF6 in return for natural uranium delivered to Iran. The E3/EU+3 will facilitate, where applicable, the conclusion and implementation of this contract. Iran may choose to seek to sell excess enriched uranium to the IAEA fuel bank in Kazakhstan when the fuel bank becomes operational.”