Iran denies report of nuclear reactor being sealed

The deputy nuclear chief's comments contradict a report on Monday by Fars news agency as saying Iran had dismantled the core of the country’s nearly finished heavy water reactor and filled it with concrete.

A file photo of the interior of the Arak heavy water production facility, about 360 km southwest of Tehran, Iran. In remarks to state TV on January 12, 2016, Ali Asghar Zarean, Iran's deputy nuclear chief, denied a report that technicians have dismantled the core of the country's nearly finished heavy water reactor and filled it with concrete. AP Photo/Fars News AgencyShow less

TEHRAN // Iran’s deputy nuclear chief on Tuesday denied a report that the Arak heavy water reactor has been decommissioned - one of its obligations under the nuclear deal with world powers to win a reprieve from sanctions.

A report by the Fars news agency on Monday cited an “informed source” as saying Iran had dismantled the core of the country’s nearly finished heavy water reactor and filled it with concrete.

But Ali Asghar Zarean, in remarks to state TV, said that Iran will first sign an agreement with China to modify the Arak reactor, a deal that is expected next week.

“Definitely, we will not apply any physical change in this field until a final agreement is finalised,” Mr Zarean added, without specifically mentioning the Fars news agency report.

The agency, which is close to Iranian hardliners, cited unnamed sources for the report.

Under the landmark nuclear deal that commits Tehran to significant limits on its nuclear activities for over a decade in exchange for relief from crippling economic sanctions, Iran must redesign the Arak reactor so it cannot produce plutonium for nuclear weapons – though it will still produce small amounts of plutonium and heavy water.

Iranian officials expect to finish implementing the July 14 deal in the coming days. Iran has already shipped most of its enriched uranium stockpile to Russia, and must still mothball most of its centrifuges and decommission the Arak reactor.

Once the United Nations confirms Iran has done this, international sanctions against Iran will be lifted, paving the way for an influx of foreign investment and, Iranian officials say, a rapid increase in crude oil exports.

Hardliners in Iran, who oppose president Hassan Rouhani and the nuclear deal with world powers, argue that the so-called “disabling” of Arak is a slap in the face for Iran and alleged evidence of Mr Rouhani having given too many concessions to the West in return for too little.

It is not clear what the modification process at Arak will involve, but officials in the past have said that some parts of the reactor need to be filled with cement because of safety concerns.

* Associated Press and Reuters