In a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran is arguing that it does not need to export heavy water in excess of the 130 tonne limit set by the nuclear agreement. Iran has twice exceeded this limit since the agreement took effect. According to the IAEA, Iran will again exceed the heavy water cap in mid-May, if production continues at the current rate.
News Briefs
March 15, 2017
Construction and installation work on a second reactor at Bushehr have begun. Russia's Rosatom subsidiary AtomStroyExport (ASE), the general contractor for the Bushehr project, and Iran's Nuclear Power Production and Development Company (NPPD) signed a contract in November 2014 to build two VVER-1000 reactors with Generation III technology. Rosatom reactor design subsidiary Atomproek is also involved in this project, known as "Bushehr II." The first reactor is expected to be completed in 2024.
-- World Nuclear News
March 13, 2017
In an article in al-Jarida daily, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander claims that Iran has established numerous arms factories in Lebanon. These factories reportedly produce various types of missiles, armed drones, and fast armored boats. Control over the factories, which are allegedly in fortified underground locations, was transferred to Hezbollah three months ago.
-- National Council of Resistance of Iran
March 7, 2017
China-based Zhongxing Telecommunications Equipment Corporation (ZTE) and a subsidiary, ZTE Kangxun Telecommunications, agreed to pay a combined civil and criminal penalty of $1.19 billion for illegal shipments to Iran and North Korea. A five-year investigation led by the U.S. Commerce Department found that ZTE conspired to ship equipment with U.S. components to Iran, in violation of a U.S. embargo. ZTE shipped millions of dollars worth of these items from 2010 to 2016, even after becoming aware that investigations into the transactions were underway. The company was also involved in 283 shipments of telecommunications equipment to North Korea. The conspiracy involved an elaborate scheme by ZTE executives to evade export controls and deceive investigators, including by establishing and using "detached" or shell companies to mask involvement in transactions involving Iran. ZTE officials also expunged the word "Iran" from internal documents and emails and used code words to hide involvement with other embargoed countries. The settlement includes a $661 million payment to Commerce, with $300 million suspended during a seven-year probationary period, and a $100 million payment to the U.S. Treasury Department. The U.S. District Court for Northern Texas may also impose a penalty of $430.5 million in combined criminal fines and forfeitures.
-- U.S. Department of Commerce Press Release
March 4, 2017
During a military drill dubbed Damavan, Iran's Air Defense conducted a successful test of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system. Iran purchased the system from Russia and took delivery of the missiles in July 2016. The contract was specifically for the S-300-PMU2 model.
-- Tasnim News
February 27, 2017
Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan announced that a new marine cruise missile, the Nasir, was tested successfully during the Iranian Navy's annual naval drill. The Dehlaviyeh, an guided anti-ship missile, was also tested successfully.
-- Tehran Times
February 25, 2017
Iran is seeking to purchase 950 tonnes of uranium ore from Kazakhstan for the purpose of producing nuclear fuel with Russian assistance. According to the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), 650 tonnes would be delivered to Iran in two shipments over two years, with the final 300 tonnes delivered in the third year and returned to Kazakhstan after enrichment. The nuclear agreement does not set limits on Iran's stockpile of uranium ore but the sale must be approved by all parties to the agreement. Britain has withheld its approval.
-- Reuters
February 24, 2017
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports that as of February 18, 2017, Iran's stock of low-enriched uranium (LEU) is 101.7 kg, after 99.9 kg of LEU stuck in pipes and other equipment at a plant in Isfahan are deemed unrecoverable. According to the IAEA report, Iran's stock of heavy water is within the 130-tonne limit set by the nuclear deal at 124.2 tonnes, after 11 tonnes were shipped to Oman.
-- Reuters
February 21, 2017
The U.S. Department of Justice is reviving an investigation of Clearstream Banking SA, a Luxembourg-based subsidiary of Deutsche Boerse AG, and its alleged financial ties to Bank Markazi, Iran's central bank. The investigation is also examining whether Deutsche Boerse AG made false statements to the U.S. government regarding Clearstream's continued involvement with Iran.
-- Bloomberg
February 14, 2017
The spokesman for the Atomic Energy Agency of Iran (AEOI), Behrouz Kamalvandi, announced that Iran's IR-8 centrifuges have a uranium enrichment capacity of 20 SWUs per year, compared to the currently installed IR-1 centrifuges at 1 SWU per year. Iran plans to mass produce IR-8 centrifuges beginning eight years after the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
-- Press TV
