MNA – The maintenance of the Arak heavy water research reactor is the first step of its redesign under Iran’s nuclear deal, Spokesman for the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee said Monday.

Hossein Naghavi Hosseini referred to the recent report issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency which verified Iran’s non-diversion of declared nuclear commitments under the nuclear deal dubbed JCPOA, saying “under the agreement reached between Iran and the 5+1 countries, China is expected to begin the modernization of the Arak heavy water research reactor soon.”

“The Agency’s report notes that the Arak heavy water research reactor is being maintained which appears to indicate that its redesign phase has gone underway,” he added.

Naghavi Hosseini further criticized the American side of the nuclear deal for non-compliance with its JCPOA-related commitments, adding “efforts must be made on all sides to bring the US back on the path of the full implementation of the nuclear accord.”