Iran voices tougher line on Arak reactor

Reuters/Dubai

Iran appeared to take a harder line in its nuclear dispute with world powers yesterday by dismissing as “ridiculous” one idea that could allay Western concerns about a planned atomic research reactor.

The fate of the heavy-water reactor at Arak, which has not yet been completed, is one of several thorny issues in talks between Iran and six powers aimed at reaching a long-term deal on Tehran’s nuclear programme by an agreed July 20 deadline.

“It is ridiculous that the power of the (Arak) reactor would be cut from 40 megawatts to 10 megawatts”, nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi said, the official Irna news agency reported.

Western powers fear the Arak plant,  250km southwest of Tehran,  could provide a supply of plutonium - one of two materials, along with highly enriched uranium, that can trigger a nuclear explosion - once operational.

Iran says it would produce isotopes for medical treatments, and denies any of its nuclear work is aimed at making a bomb.

Araqchi made no other reference to the idea in the remarks carried by Irna, and it was not clear whether such a reduction in electrical power at the planned facility had been formally proposed at the latest round of talks last week.

Araqchi said Iran’s negotiating team would do its utmost to get an accord by July 20 based on the country’s “red lines”, but it would not be a “tragedy” if no deal was reached by then.

Iran’s red lines include preserving the Arak reactor and maintaining the enrichment capabilities.

He said the talks would resume in Vienna on June 16-20.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif said on his Twitter account that a deal was “possible”.

“Back from Vienna after tough discussions. Agreement is possible. But illusions need to go. Opportunity shouldn’t be missed again like in 2005,” Zarif tweeted.

Zarif was referring to a 2005 proposal for Iran to convert all of its enriched uranium to fuel rods, making it impossible to use it for nuclear weapons.