The Arak, or IR-40 nuclear reactor is a Heavy Water nuclear reactor located in northeastern Iran. Arak Iran Nuclear Research Reactor (IR-40) Iran attempted to buy a 30 MWt heavy water research reactor from China in 1991. Iran vows to restart activities at Arak heavy water facility Tehran’s atomic agency chief briefs lawmakers on unraveling nuclear deal, as remaining signatories after US pullout set to meet in Vienna Nuclear Program 1 December 2020 14:05 (UTC+04:00) Access to paid information is limited. In the nuclear deal sealed last month, Iran agreed to remove the reactor core from Arak and redesign it with new technology provided by world powers … Nuclear Program; Activities of Iran's Arak nuclear reactor to restore soon. The move was designed to intensify pressure on Europe to find an effective way around U.S. sanctions that block Tehran’s oil sales abroad. The Iranian government is advancing its nuclear program at a faster pace. Of all Iran’s nuclear plants, none is more heavily defended against air attack than Arak. Iran … Arak. ... A nuclear armed Iran could attempt to militarily take over Bahrain and annex the kingdom. ... Iran nuclear deal members urge Tehran’s return to compliance . In accordance with the JCPOA, Iran had to rebuild the nuclear facility in Arak to satisfy concerns over the possible producing and reprocessing of weapons-grade plutonium. All Iran's facilities, except the Arak heavy water plant and a Kalaye plant, were under IAEA safeguards as of mid-2003. Arak was one of the two sites exposed by a spokesman for the People's Mujahedin of Iran in 2002. Additionally, in his January 22 interview with state-run TV Channel Four, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization Ali-Akbar Salehi revealed that the regime did deceive foreign nuclear negotiators and watchdog over Arak heavy water facility. A top official said Iran has offered to alter its Arak reactor to generate less plutonium that other countries fear could be used in bombs, Press TV reports. This was concerning because of Heavy Water’s usefulness in producing and enriching weapons grade Plutonium. Iran removed the core of the Arak facility and filled part of it with cement as part of a 2015 deal that gave the country relief from sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear program. Iran's nuclear plan: Arak's air defences revealed. "We would redesign the heart of the Arak reactor, so that its production of plutonium will decrease drastically," Iranian Atomic Energy Organization head Ali Akbar Salehi said in Wednesday comments quoted by the state-run news agency. Relationship between Civilian and Military Nuclear Programs. Iran has long sought to conceal and protect its nuclear activities at sites buried deep underground in order to stop their destruction from the air in a potential conflict. Iran began new operations on Monday at a heavy water nuclear reactor, the head of the country's nuclear agency said. A handout picture released by Iran's Atomic Energy Organization on December 23, 2019 shows the nuclear water reactor of Arak, south of the capital Tehran. The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, told lawmakers on Sunday that Iran will restart activities at the Arak heavy water nuclear reactor, the ISNA news agency reported. At its conception in 2003, Arak was intended to be a large-scale producer of Heavy Water for Iran. Iranian reactors like the one at Arak, south of Tehran, are subject to the 2015 nuclear deal from which the US has withdrawn under Donald Trump HO Atomic Energy Organization of Iran/AFP Since 2003, Tehran has allowed IAEA inspectors to visit some of its nuclear development sites. “When IAEA inspectors told us to pour cement into the Arak reactor’s tubes… we said: ‘Fine. It has signed the Additional Protocol to this safeguards agreement but has not ratified it. Parliament passed a non-binding resolution on Tuesday calling on the government to raise uranium enrichment levels to 20%, start rebuilding the heavy water reactor in Arak, and limit the access of UN inspectors to Iran's nuclear sites. (Atomic Energy Organization of Iran/AFP) Short Url. Iran's nuclear water reactor of Arak, south of the capital Tehran [File: Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AFP] ... the 2015 nuclear deal signed between Iran … Iran denies that any of its nuclear activity is geared at developing weapons, and says the 40-megawatt, heavy-water plant at Arak is used to produce isotopes for … A secondary circuit for Iran's Arak heavy water reactor has become operational as part of its redesign under the 2015 nuclear deal, the country's atomic energy chief said today. Natanz and other sites are heavily defended from aerial attack. However, in November 2018 the US allowed Iran to continue work on several nonproliferation projects in Iran, including Arak. According to the JCPOA, Tehran vowed not to produce weapons-grade plutonium at its Arak facility — which it is obliged to reconfigure — and not to build new heavy-water reactors for 15 years to curb its nuclear program. Iran joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1970 and concluded its safeguards agreement with the IAEA in 1974. Above, the nuclear water reactor of Arak, south of Tehran. The other is a military program that operates secretly. Iran agreed to shut down the reactor at Arak, - about 250 km southwest of Tehran - under the 2015 deal. For more than 25 years, Iran’s nuclear work has consisted of two programs working in tandem. One is overt and civilian in nature and includes the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), universities and academic institutions. By David Blair 26 February 2013 • 21:55 pm . 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