Redesign of Iran’s Arak Reactor Underway

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for American and European Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi announced that operations to redesign the Arak heavy-water reactor are well underway, in compliance with Tehran’s lasting nuclear deal with six world powers.

“One of our undertakings (in the nuclear deal) is to redesign the Arak reactor,” Takht Ravanchi, who was a member of Iran’s negotiating team in the nuclear talks with the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), told reporters on Monday.

All that has to be done in Arak is being done, the Iranian deputy minister added.

“Part of the work is being carried out by Iranian experts and a new reactor is scheduled to be designed and installed (there),” he noted.

Iran and the Group 5+1 on July 14 reached a conclusion on a lasting nuclear agreement that would terminate all sanctions imposed on Tehran over its nuclear energy program after coming into force.

According to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), “Iran will redesign and rebuild a modernized heavy water research reactor in Arak, based on an agreed conceptual design, using fuel enriched up to 3.67 %, in a form of an international partnership which will certify the final design.”

Later in November, the document on redesigning the heavy water reactor was signed by all parties to the JCPOA.

The lasting deal is expected to take effect within the next few days.