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Russia, Iran to remove enriched uranium from Iran by year-end — envoy

Russia will supply natural uranium and uranium concentrate (yellowcake) to Iran

VIENNA, December 7. /TASS/. Russia and Iran will complete the removal of enriched uranium from Iran in exchange for natural one by the end of the year, Russia’s UN envoy in Vienna, Vladimir Voronkov, has told TASS.

"This will certainly happen by the end of the year," he said, adding that both the removal of nuclear material from Iran and the delivery of natural one to Iran would be completed within that deadline.

Russia will supply natural uranium and uranium concentrate (yellowcake) to Iran. Voronkov said the details of the deal were being finalized at the technical level.

Under the agreement on Iran’s nuclear program adopted in Vienna Iran is to reduce from ten tonnes to 300 kilograms its reserves of uranium enriched to 3.67%. Iran will hand over to Russia the redundant amount in exchange for a proportionate amount of unenriched uranium. Earlier, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the transportation will begin after the IAEA board of governors on December 15 will approve of Director-General Yukia Amano’s report regarding the controversial aspects of the nuclear program.

According to Voronkov. all countries of the P5+1 group of international mediators, namely the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany, are ready to support a draft resolution of the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) closing Iran’s nuclear dossier.

He said the joint Iran-P5+1 commission was very much likely to finalize the draft resolution and distribute it among the council members by the end of the day.

"There is an understanding that it will be passed. No one is against, all want the implementation day to come the soonest possible," he said. "There are almost next to no differences, everything is likely to be smooth but there are things that are to be polished."

"The process is underway," Voronkov noted. "We hope the draft will be distributed among the members of the board of governors by the end of the day."

According to the Russian diplomat, Tehran, which demands ultimate closure of its nuclear dossier, will be satisfied with the resolution. "However I cannot be certain about the result, as the consultations are still underway," he said. "I hope its will be a successful story."