24-11-2024 06:43 AM Jerusalem Timing

Russia: Ready to Process Iranian Nuclear Fuel

Russia: Ready to Process Iranian Nuclear Fuel

Russian diplomats involved in the historic framework accord on Iran’s nuclear program said Friday Moscow’s atomic energy agency, Rosatom, was ready to provide Tehran with new reactor fuel.

Russian diplomats involved in the historic framework accord on Iran's nuclear program said Friday Moscow's atomic energy agency, Rosatom, was ready to provide Tehran with new reactor fuel.

"The Russian Federation and Rosatom are ready to supply new fuel and process irradiated fuel in existing reactors, and those Iran will be building," said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov according to Russia's Interfax press agency.Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov

Ryabkov added that the offer applied "to reactors constructed in Iran with a Russian project involving Russian participation."

"The question remains very difficult for other reactors (whose construction) Russia was not involved in, and we are not ready to provide our position on it."

Last November Moscow concluded accords with Iran to build two new reactors at its Bushehr plant -- which was officially delivered to Tehran in 2013 -- and signed protocols to construct an additional four reactors on other sites.

Ryabkov hailed the accomplishment of hammering out agreements on most aspects of the deal.

"We can be proud of ourselves," he said, urging that between now and the final accord due by July, economic sanctions against Iran should be lifted "immediately."