Iran ready to export nuclear fuel

Despite mounting international pressure, Iranian scientists have acquired the desired know-how to produce nuclear fuel without receiving outside help, deputy head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) Abdallah Solat-Sana told IRNA on Monday.

Speaking at Tehran's third Nuclear Technology Exhibition, Solat-Sana said international pressure had prevented different countries from offering Iran a nuclear license and therefore "it is only natural for them [other states] to show reluctance in purchasing nuclear fuel from Iran."

The Iranian official went on to say that the best means to gain international trust for Iran's nuclear products was "to firstly use domestically-produced nuclear fuel in Iranian nuclear plants."

Iran's first Fuel Manufacturing Plant (FMP) in the central city of Isfahan is slated to produce pellets of uranium oxide that could be used to fuel Arak IR-40 heavy-water reactor and Darkhovin IR-360 reactor within 2 and 6 respectively.

Regarding the Bushehr plant, Iran's first nuclear reactor built with Russian help, Solat-Sana said in its initial agreement with Moscow, Tehran had accepted to power the plant with Russian fuel."

"We do not wish to provide nuclear fuel for the Bushehr plant ourselves, as we believe in having international ties which will enable us to both purchase and sell nuclear fuel," the Iranian official concluded.