29 Mar 2024
Thursday 10 December 2015 - 13:55
Story Code : 192044

Iran, China confer on steps to renovate Arak reactor

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian and Russian officials discussed necessary measures needed to redesign the Arak heavy water reactor in Central Iran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi conferred on parts of the nuclear agreement reached between Tehran and the world powers on July 14 which are related to redesigning the Arak reactor.

Zarif told reporters that in meeting with Wang Yi on Wednesday, the mutual cooperation, visit of China's president to Iran and future of strategic relations between the two countries were discussed.

In relevant remarks in November, Iranian Foreign Ministry's Director General for Political Affairs and International Security Hamid Baeedinejad announced that the document to redesign Arak heavy water reactor was signed by Tehran and the world powers after they accepted Iran's practical proposals in this regard.

"Presentation of a practical proposal to renovate and modernize the reactor played an important role in changing the G5+1 countries' position," Baeedinejad wrote on his Instagram page.

"Based on the proposal which is the result of the innovative research by Iranian nuclear engineers, Arak reactor will have many technical applications in production of radiomedicines and industrial nuclear products," he added.

"As a result, this reactor will be equipped with the world's latest state-of-the-art technology," Baeedinejad said.

Representatives of Tehran and the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) as well as EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini inked the final document on redesigning Arak heavy water reactor in Central Iran earlier this month.

Also last month, Spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi announced that four members of the G5+1 are due to cooperate with Tehran in redesigning its heavy water reactor in Arak.

"Four countries of the G5+1 members have accepted to cooperate with Iran in supplying advanced equipment for the (Arak) reactor and different other issues," Kamalvandi told reporters in Tehran earlier this month.

Noting that the official document for redesigning Arak reactor has been finalized and is awaiting Iran and the world powers' endorsement, he said, "We have had negotiations on this issue in Vienna and recently, some consultations have been made by the Iranian foreign ministry officials in China."

Kamalvandi, meantime, underscored that Iran, itself, enjoys the capability to redesign the Arak reactor but it has sought the world powers' assistance to accelerate the job.

Also, in August, Chinese nuclear officials in a meeting with Head of the AEOI Ali Akbar Salehi promised to help Tehran modernize its heavy water reactor in the Central city of Arak.

Iran and China agreed to modernize Arak heavy water reactor and cooperate in producing 20,000-megawatt of nuclear electricity.

Salehi held talks with chairman of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) to discuss ways to foster mutual cooperation.

Touching upon the two countries' experiences in technical and engineering arenas, Iran's accessibility to the third generation nuclear technology and financing the nuclear projects, Salehi voiced the Islamic Republic's willingness to enhance its relations with China.

The Chinese side, for its part, welcomed promotion of cooperation with the AEOI, and voiced readiness to help Iran modernize Arak heavy water reactor.

By Fars News Agency
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