Developments on Tehran Research Reactor Fuel Proposal
On October 21, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Dr. Mohammed ElBaradei presented the draft of an agreement, developed by negotiators from France, Iran, Russia and the United States, to send approximately 75 percent of Iran’s known uranium to Russia and France for enrichment to a level acceptable for medical usage. The enriched uranium would then be returned to Iran. On October 23, France, Russia and the United States positively responded to the draft. On October 29, in a preliminary response, the Iranian government indicated that it would not accept the deal in its original form, and sought changes to the proposal. Iranian officials have continued to send mixed messages about the proposed agreement. Officials from Britain, China, the European Union, France, Germany, Russia and the United States met in Brussels on November 20 to discuss the talks with Iran about its nuclear program and the possibility of new sanctions.
IAEA Board of Governors Resolution
On November 27, the IAEA passed a resolution that reprimanded Iran for the construction of a covert uranium enrichment facility near Qom and demanded an explanation of its purpose, a cessation in construction and verification that there are no additional secret sites. The resolution was the IAEA’s first censure of Iran in almost four years. It was approved by 25 out of the 35 member states, including Russia and China.
Iran’s Response
On November 29, Iran indicated its refusal to abide by the resolution and its Cabinet approved a plan for 10 new uranium enrichment plants. Iran’s parliament also issued a statement urging the country to restrict its cooperation with the IAEA and individual Iranian political leaders sent mixed signals on withdrawing from the nonproliferation treaty. On December 4, an Iranian nuclear official stated that Iran would inform the IAEA of plans for its nuclear sites only six months before the sites would begin production. In 2007, Iran unilaterally withdrew from a 2003 subsidiary agreement with the IAEA, and argues that it is now legally obligated to provide only this amount of information to the IAEA.
For more on the proposed agreement on Tehran Research Reactor Fuel see our recent Background Basics.
