Kazakhstan Says Ready to Provide Iran with Concentrated Uranium


Kazakhstan Says Ready to Provide Iran with Concentrated Uranium

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The head of Kazakh state nuclear company Kazatomprom said it plans to supply Iran with concentrated uranium, also known as yellowcake.

“According to the UN Security Council resolution, the delivery of uranium concentrate to Iran can be possible only after the permission of the six countries – China, Germany, USA, France, Britain, Russia,” Galymzhan Pirmatov said recently, New Europe reported on Saturday.

Iran and Kazakhstan signed a contract on the supply of natural uranium concentrate to Iran in April 2016.

He added, “Due to the fact that obtaining permission is delayed, Kazatomprom extended the contract with Iran until 2020. The delivery of uranium from Kazakhstan to Iran is planned during 2018-2020, but after the permission of ‘The Six’”.

Kazatomprom, based on the contract, had first planned to begin deliveries of uranium to Iran this year. Kazatomprom is a national operator in Kazakhstan for the import and export of uranium, rare metals and nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants. Kazakhstan has been the world leader in the extraction of natural uranium since 2009.

Back in February 2017, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi said the Islamic Republic had requested to buy 950 tons of concentrated uranium from Kazakhstan over the next three years.

“This agreement will be implemented within three years and some 650 tons will enter the country directly in two consignments over two years,” he said at the time.

Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, US, Britain, France, and Germany) on July 14, 2015, reached a conclusion over the text of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) and started implementing it on January 16, 2016.

Under the nuclear agreement, Iran undertook to put limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.

The deal does not set limits on Iran’s supplies of uranium ore.

Most Visited in Nuclear
Top Nuclear stories
Top Stories