The International Atomic Energy Agency reports that Iran 'has taken the initial practical measures that were foreseen' in the Framework for Cooperation that was agreed between the two parties in November. The Agency also announced it has reached agreement with Iran on seven new practical measures to be implemented by 15 May 2014.
According to the IAEA, the measures are:
- Providing information and managed access to the Saghand mine in Yazd;
- Providing information and managed access to the Ardakan concentration plant;
- Submission of an updated Design Information Questionnaire (DIQ) for the IR-40 Reactor;
- Taking steps to agree with the Agency on the conclusion of a Safeguards Approach for the IR-40 Reactor;
- Providing information and arranging for a technical visit to Lashkar Ab'ad Laser Centre;
- Providing information on source material, which has not reached the composition and purity suitable for fuel fabrication or for being isotopically enriched, including imports of such material and on Iran's extraction of uranium from phosphates
- Providing information and explanations for the Agency to assess Iran's stated need or application for the development of Exploding Bridge Wire detonators.
Iran has taken the measures foreseen in November
The Framework for Cooperation that was agreed between IAEA and Iran in November stipulated that Iran would take voluntary measures over a six-month period to achieve its goal of ensuring that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful, whose result would be the lifting of all UN Security Council sanctions against the country. It "would enable Iran to fully enjoy its right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes under the relevant articles of the NPT..." including a 'mutually-defined' enrichment programme. In return for Iran's compliance, US and EU sanctions on petrochemical exports and its auto industry would be suspended.
The IAEA said in a statement, 9 February that 'Iran has taken the initial practical measures that were foreseen.' The measures were:
- Not to enrich uranium to greater than 5% until May 2014
- To dilute half of its stocks of 20% enriched UF6 to no more than 5%; the other half to be kept as working stock for fuel fabrication for the TRR. Iran would not operate a reconversion line.
- To cease making advances of activities at Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant, Fordow or the Arak Reactor (IR-40)
- To convert new 5%-enriched UF6 to oxide, when the conversion line is ready
- Not to develop any new locations for enrichment
- To be able to continue safeguarded R&D activities, including current enrichment R&D, which are not designed for accumulating enriched uranium
- Not to do any fuel reprocessing, or to build any facility capable of reprocessing
- Enable enhanced monitoring, by submitting detailed information to the IAEA, and allowing visits and access
In January, IAEA director-general Yukiya Amano reported that Iran had begun to implement the plan of action, which was agreed by China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States. He also said that the IAEA would monitor and verify the nuclear-related measures in the Joint Plan of Action, an effort whose cost, incidentally, was estimated in January at EUR 6 million ($8 million).
Also in January, Tero Varjoranta, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Safeguards, said that the IAEA had reviewed progress on initial objectives agreed in November with Iran, which included a technical visit to the Arak heavy water production plant in December.
Photo: January 2014 press conference with Deputy Director General and Head of the IAEA Department of Safeguards, Tero Varjoranta, and Iranian Ambassador to the UN, H.E. Reza Najafi
