Iran Finds 3 Faults With US Proposal on Implementing JCPOA

 

Tehran  –   A member of Iranian nuclear negotiations team said on that Iran has found three faults in a US proposal for alterations in Arak nuclear reactor, arguing that the plan for those alterations is a national one, not any other country’s proposal, or plan.

A panel discussion to survey the technical dimensions of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was held at the Central Office of IRNA in the presence of members of Iranian nuclear negotiations team PezhmanRahimian and former negotiator Cyrus Nasseri.

 

Rahimian focused on the discussions on Arak Reactor, arguing that the plan for alterations in that reactor was not presented by any foreign country and is quite a national plan.

‘The other side’s initial proposal for Arak Reactor was shutting it down, which is also mentioned in one of the UN Security Council resolutions, as well, but in later discussions turning it to a light-water reactor gained momentum,’ he said.

Member of the nuclear negotiations team added that after the Geneva agreement, it was agreed that keeping the Arak Reactor as a heavy-water reactor is among Iran’s redlines.

‘Lengthy discussions were held and a couple of proposals were made. Russia had one proposal and China had another, both were similar with each other and with an American version, and it is said that we accepted it,’ said Rahimian.

He said when the technicians of those countries’ teams were asked why such clumsy technical specifications were proposed for those alteration keeping in mind the advanced technologies in those countries, they said they had been asked to offer that much.

‘We realized there were political intentions behind those plans, which would have left us with something resembling a toy, rather than a nuclear reactor,’ he added.

Rahimian said that the Iranian technicians found three major faultswith those plans, believing which was initially tough for the other side.

‘Our first point was that their proposed plan, if implemented, will leave Iran with neither any research capability, nor with any production capacity. The second major problem is that our technicians proved to them that the fuel for that reactor would have melted during the course of the job, while a security measure in a reactor is that letting its fuel melt should not happen, as otherwise something like Japan’s Fukushima Reactor could easily happen. The third problem, too, was noticeable decrease in plutonium production, which was important for research activities,’ he said.

JCPOA will be approved in US Congress, in Iran

Former member of the Iranian nuclear negotiation team Cyrus Nasseri, too, said that the JCPOA has both in Iran and in the US been so much politicized that it is gradually beginning to bug the minds.

‘When an agreement that is at least very clear for our own people that it is supreme and prominent, is turning into a matter for controversial debates, I think we are not paving the right path,’ he said.

Nasseri added, ‘I hope we will soon reach a national consensus in this regard very soon, which is a dire need.’

He said that the hot political debates in the United States and the high cost campaign among different groups in that country is one of the marginal, but very interesting results of the agreement.

The Iranian veteran diplomat said he assumes when Foreign Minister Mohammad JavadZarif began negations, he never expected to reach this point that some groups in the US will begin defending the agreement and face a group that have heavy plans to defend the stands of the Zionist regime, and not their own national interests.

Afkhamslams Obama’s anti-Iran remarks

On the other hand, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman MarziyehAfkhamblasted the recent remarks by US President Barack Obama who threatened the Islamic Republic with military action.

Afkham’s remarks came after the US president told the Republican-dominated Congress that the military option against Iran will remain on the table for several years despite the nuclear agreement between Iran and the world powers in Vienna on July 14.

“Repeated allegations by US officials which are made in line with the Zionist regime’s interests and to satisfy the pro-Israel lobbies show the American officials’ uncertainty and deep confusion when it comes to their own national interests preferences,” Afkham said on Saturday.

 She said warmongers and the so-called advocates of diplomacy in the US both rely on illusionary, dangerous and horrific ideas which have so far inflicted irreparable damage on the world and are today one of the root causes of international insecurity.

“The Zionist regime is the most important source of instability and spread of terrorism in the Middle East and the US government’s support for this regime and the policy of creating and supporting the terrorist groups as well as training and equipping them have placed the US in the stand of a suspect,” Afkham said.

The Iranian foreign ministry spokeswoman reiterated that the threat of military attack on Iran is a violation of the UN Charter and principles and will bring about international liability for the US government and officials.

Afkham underlined that the Islamic Republic of Iran would never accept any restriction in defending itself in political, military and security fields.

“Should Iran seek to dash toward a nuclear weapon, all of the options available to the United States –  including the military option – will remain available through the life of the deal and beyond,” Obama wrote to Congress on August 19, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

IRNA, FNA

R.S