Nuclear Ties Serve As New Ground for Trust Building

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has emphasized that nuclear cooperation can be a new ground for trust building between Tehran and the Arab Gulf Littoral States.

Speaking in an interview with Arab media ‘Al Mayadeen’, Salehi expressed Tehran’s readiness to exchange its nuclear experiences in scientific, industrial and research reactor making fields.

He rejected claims made by some Arab countries over insecurity of Iranian nuclear installations, saying it is completely monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

He reiterated the fact that Iran is capable of uranium enrichment in any level, saying, ‘We are now testing the 8th generation of centrifuges which will take 5-6 years.’

Tehran’s researches are in the framework of the nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), since based on the nuclear agreement Iran will be able to conduct research, he said.

Salehi went on to say, ‘Iran hopes for Europe to comply with its commitments for designing new centrifuges, but if they kill time, Iran will have many options but for the time being it is not willing to take them.

Despite US withdrawal from Iran deal, Iran has not been damaged technically, he added.

There are some restrictions that we have accepted them and they will actually have no impact on the speed of nuclear industry development.

However, ‘If we are to make recourse to the pre-nuclear agreement era, we will remove impediments to uranium enrichment in proportion to our need,’ he added.

Elaborating on his recent comments that core of Arak reactor is not filled with concrete and that the concrete was poured into special reactor pipes, he said the pipes for the reactor core were not purchased covertly, rather it was a preventive measure taken prior to implementation of the nuclear agreement and the other party was informed of.

IRNA

R.S