RFE
06 Dec 2019, 04:15 GMT+10
Russian state nuclear company Rosatom has suspended work on modernizing a unit of Iran's Fordow nuclear complex due to an issue with uranium compatibility, Rosatom's nuclear fuel cycle unit TVEL said on December 5.
'Uranium enrichment and the production of stable isotopes cannot be carried out in the same room,' TVEL said in a statement, adding that the implementation of the project was 'technologically impossible' currently.
TVEL said its experts have been working since 2017 on a project to modify centrifuge cascades to produce two stable isotopes that can be used for medicinal purposes.
But it said their efforts have been rendered useless by traces of uranium in the air and on the equipment.
'To resume this work, we must stop and dismantle the cascades, where uranium enrichment takes place, and thoroughly clean the premises and equipment,' said TVEL. 'Until these conditions are met, works on the project from the Russian side are suspended.'
The United States last month said it would cease waiving punitive sanctions related to the Fordow plant from December 15 after Tehran resumed uranium enrichment at the underground site in breach of a nuclear accord it signed with world powers in 2015.
After President Donald Trump last year announced that the United States was withdrawing from the deal under which Tehran pledged to restrain its enrichment program, European countries have tried to salvage the landmark nonproliferation agreement.
But Iran has increasingly distanced itself from the accord after Washington's decision.
Based on reporting by Reuters and dpa
Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Republished with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036
Get a daily dose of Iran Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Iran Herald.
More InformationNEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks fell Tuesday after a session which saw major indices moving in and out ...
NEW YORK, New York: As lingerie company Victoria's Secret prepares to look for a new owner, the price tag for ...
PLANO, Texas: The head of the nation's third largest chain of cinemas sees an end to the business lockdown which ...
NEW YORK, New York: A state court has granted a temporary ruling allowing 90 New York bars and restaurants to ...
SYDNEY, NSW, Australia - Stocks in Asia initially extended gains following an overnight rally in Europe and Wall Street."There's everything ...
NEW YORK, New York: After delisting three of China's biggest telecommunications companies this year - China Mobile, China Telecom, and ...
Riyadh [Saudi Arabia] March 3 (ANI/Sputnik): A Saudi-led coalition has said that it downed a drone launched by Yemen's Houthi ...
Field Level Media's Golf Glance provides weekly news and storylines from each of the major North American golf tours. PGA ...
Lewis Hamilton said Tuesday that winning a record-breaking eighth world championship in 2021 would not be the determining factor in ...
Pakistan, Nigeria and Indonesia will each received more than 10 million doses from the Covax scheme.The Covax scheme will distribute ...
New Delhi [India], March 2 (ANI): General Kenneth Wilsbach, commander of Pacific Air Forces, on Tuesday called on Indian Air ...
Gareth Southgate has admitted he is facing "big decisions" over which players to include in England's attack for the European ...