Diplomat: Iran to inform IAEA of 10 new sites 180 days before gas injection

An Iranian nuclear expert says Tehran will inform the International Atomic Energy Agency of building 10 new nuclear sites only 180 days prior to gas injection.

“Based on the (country’s) latest stances, we will act exactly within framework of the IAEA regulations and alike other members and inform the IAEA of the issue (construction of 10 new sites) after installation of installations and only 180 days before gas injection and entry of the radioactive substances,” Iran’s former Ambassador to Italy, Abolfaz Zohrevand, said in an exclusive interview with IRNA.

Zohrevand made the remark following the IAEA’s recent statement on announcement of the location and design of 10 new nuclear sites.

He said the Islamic Republic of Iran does not basically agree with the Subsidiary Arrangements to the Safeguards Agreement which refers to Code 3.1 and “it has been discarded from our agenda.”

The modified Code 3.1 demands the Tehran government to inform the agency of the existence of and plans for nuclear plants before construction begins.

Iran observed the modified Code 3.1 from February 2003 to March 2007.

Zohrevand said that based on the Safeguards Agreement and Code 3.1, any IAEA member should inform the Agency of a new site after construction of facilities and installation of machines and six months prior to gas injections and entry of the radioactive substances to the installations so that the Agency will arrange inspections.

He said one of the points of criticism to former nuclear team in the reformist government is that they accepted a subsidiary to the Safeguards Agreement in 2003 within framework of their talks, based on which they would have to inform the Agency of the time they decide to build nuclear facilities.

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