Iran’s priority is buying nuclear fuel, MPs say
Tehran Times Political Desk

TEHRAN - Two lawmakers have insisted that Iran should buy the nuclear fuel for the Tehran research reactor, saying the International Atomic Energy Agency is legally obligated to provide fuel to Iran.

MP Javad Jahangirzadeh told the Mehr News Agency on Friday that it would be a great mistake for Iran to accept the proposal to exchange its low-enriched uranium for the 20 percent enriched fuel for the Tehran reactor.

A proposal has been made according to which Iran would exchange some of its low-enriched uranium for 20 percent enriched uranium for the Tehran reactor, which produces radioisotopes fro medical treatment.

Jahangirzadeh said Iran should not be worried about providing fuel for the reactor because according to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, all countries that are members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) are legally required to sell nuclear fuel to NPT signatories under IAEA supervision.

Jahangirzadeh, who sits on the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, stated that Western countries are constantly voicing their concerns about Iran’s nuclear activities and insisting that Iran should not enrich uranium while they have reneged on their commitment to provide fuel for the Tehran reactor.

MP Hossein Nejabat of the Majlis Energy Committee said that according to the terms of the NPT, the IAEA is obligated to provide fuel for the Tehran reactor.

Western countries know that if they do not sell fuel for the reactor, Iran has the capability to enrich uranium to 20 percent, Nejabat told MNA on Friday.

“At the current time, our priority is buying fuel for the Tehran reactor,” he added.

Iran’s partners have proposed an exchange of a consignment of Iran’s five percent enriched uranium for a delivery of 20 percent enriched uranium to Iran but “we do not accept it” because buying fuel is “legal” and “there is no need for an exchange,” he stated.

One of Iran’s preconditions for joining the NPT was that the United States and other countries would provide fuel to Iran, but so far, they have reneged on their commitments, he said.

The UN nuclear watchdog is responsible for providing fuel to Iran, and thus pressuring Iran to exchange fuel cannot be justified, he added.

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