Sputnik- Tehran has completed the planning stage of a project for a new nuclear reactor in Arak and could proceed with construction in 2-3 months, Tasnim News Agency reported, citing representative of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Behrouz Kamalundi.



"In accordance with�the planned schedule, we have completed the last stage of�the preparatory phase and sent the results to�the Chinese side. After agreeing with�them within�2-3 months we shall begin the construction stage of�the reactor," Kamalundi said as�quoted by�the agency. The official went on�to say that in�the event Tehran abandons the Iran nuclear deal, formally known as�the Joint Comprehensive Plan of�Action (JCPOA), it will be able to�rebuild the reactor in�Arak.


Kamalundi also added that the cancellation of�the nuclear deal will give Iran the opportunity to�enrich uranium at�its factories in�Natanz and Fordo.
"Now there are about�six thousand centrifuges in�Natanz. At the Fordo plant, enrichment is not being carried out, but�in the event of�Iran's withdrawal from�the nuclear deal and the relevant decision of�the management, we will again launch the uranium-processing plant at�Fordo," he said.


However, he stressed that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had ordered compliance with�the terms of�the JCPOA.

The Arak Nuclear Complex consists of�a heavy water experimental reactor and a heavy water production plant. In accordance with�the JCPOA, Iran had to�rebuild the nuclear facility in�Arak to�satisfy concerns over�the possible producing and reprocessing of�weapons-grade plutonium. In accordance with�the JCPOA, Iran filled the reactor's core with�cement to�render it inoperable. The redesigned plant is being used for�peaceful nuclear research in�medical and industrial spheres. Under the nuclear deal, Iran has also pledged to�redesign the uranium enrichment facility in�Fordo so as�to make it a nuclear and technological research center.

Iran's possible move to�launch its heavy water reactor is connected with�the uncertainty over�the fate of�the nuclear deal. On May 8, US President Donald Trump announced Washington's withdrawal from�the JCPOA. The nuclear deal confined Tehran's nuclear program in�exchange for�the lifting of�the UN's nuclear sanctions as�well as�restrictive measures introduced by�the US and the EU. Trump vowed not only to�reimpose sanctions but�to introduce new ones.