Iran’s ambassador to the Vienna-based international organizations dismissed concerns about the production of uranium silicide fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR), hitting back at the JCPOA parties for refusing to supply Iran with such a fuel used for peaceful purposes.
In a series of posts on his Twitter account on Thursday, Kazem Gharibabadi provided a description of the process of production of enriched uranium metal inside Iran.
“Annually, more than 800,000 patients are in need of radiopharmaceuticals produced by the AEOI at TRR. Fuel for the TRR is normally enriched uranium of up to 20%. With upgraded Silicide fuel of up to 20%, the quality and quantity of products will be remarkably enhanced”, he said.
“Production of uranium metal in one of the transient stages of the production of Silicide fuel, is an unavailable requirement. Although according to the JCPOA Iran may begin with R&D on the fuel based on uranium metal for the TRR after year 10,” the envoy added.
“However, it should be noted that Iran declared in January 2019 that as its last step for the cessation of some of its commitments under the deal, its nuclear program is no longer bound by any restrictions and as of then will be followed based on its technical needs,” Gharibabadi stated.
“Even at the time of implementation of the JCPOA, such a limitation could not be interpreted as if when Iran needs such fuel, those who have the capability should not provide Iran with it,” he explained.
“The issue of ensuring Iran’s access to Silicide fuel was also raised by Iran in recent JCPOA negotiations, but none of producing countries of such fuel was ready to provide Iran with such a definite guarantee in this regard,” the ambassador added.
“Although there are references in JCPOA to the assistance to be provided to Iran on the enhancement of the quality of its radiopharmaceutical products, they also refrained from adhering to this commitment, and have taken no step in the most peaceful nuclear application field,” he deplored.
“With the progress achieved in the nuclear field, and thanks to the efforts made by its tireless scientists, Iran has now gained the technology for the production of Silicide fuel,” Gharibabadi noted.
“The concerned countries should respond that while they are not ready to provide such fuel for Iran, and at the same time, when Iran itself has achieved the necessary technology for its production, why and on what rational basis, it should not proceed with such production?!” he concluded.
