Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, has confirmed that the issue of “advanced centrifuges” is the main obstacle to the start of an interim nuclear deal.
Salehi spoke on Saturday of last week’s high-level talks seeking to arrange the implementation of November’s agreement, which includes Iran’s suspension of enrichment of 20% uranium and an easing of US-led sanctions on Tehran:
“There were one or two issues for which the experts had gone to Geneva, and one of them which was raised by the other side was the advanced centrifuges.”

A year ago, Iran began introduction of the IR-2M centrifuge, replacing the 40-year-old IR-1, in the Natanz enrichment plant. However, it has only tested a few of the IR-2Ms, and none of them are operational.

The dispute holding up the implementation of the interim deal, which Iranian officials had hoped would begin January 20, is whether Iran can do anything with the IR-2Ms beyond “research and development”, such as installation. In addition, Western sources have claimed to journalists that Iran is testing a centrifuge which is even more advance.

Salehi expressed confidence that Iran and 5+1 Powers (US, Russia, China, Britain, France, Germany) would reach an agreement, with implementation from late January: “Our position is very good now; we carry out enrichment, and continue our discoveries and nuclear technology applications.”

By EA WorldView

 

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