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Russia may begin removal of enriched uranium from Iran in January-February — envoy

According to the envoy, the agreements between Russia and Iran on exports of enriched uranium and reconfiguration of the Fordow facility will be prepared in the coming weeks
Uranium conversion plant in Iran EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
Uranium conversion plant in Iran
© EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

VIENNA, October 19./TASS/. Russia may begin exports of enriched uranium from Iran as early as next January or February, head of the Russian delegation at the meeting of the joint commission comprising the P5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) and Iran and Russia’s envoy to international organizations in Vienna Vladimir Voronkov told reporters on Monday. According to him, all technical aspects have been studied in depth.

""The main documents on Fordow and uranium have been worked out, the implementation of these measures will begin in late January or early February next year, if there are no surprises," he said. "As for the documents, I think this is a matter of several weeks," Voronkov said answering a question on finalizing the agreements asked by a TASS correspondent.

"We are fulfilling our part of obligations at a good pace," the Russian diplomat said. "We managed to reach a very good level of cooperation with Iranians."

According to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iran will be allowed to enrich uranium to only 3.67% The current stockpiles are estimated at about 10 tons. To do this, Iran has two options — selling enriched uranium abroad or "diluting" it to the natural level without exporting it.

Iran also pledged to reconstruct its Fordow fuel enrichment plant, reconfiguring it for the production of stable isotopes for industrial and medical purposes. Tehran carries out this work in collaboration with Moscow.