VZCZCXRO8403
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHTRO
DE RUEHDIR #0432/01 2861153
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131153Z OCT 09
FM RPO DUBAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0567
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0039
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC
RUEHDIR/RPO DUBAI 0568
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RPO DUBAI 000432
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IR PGOV PREL PARM
SUBJECT: IRAN PRESS: AEOI SAYS IRAN WILL PROVIDE TEHRAN RESEARCH
REACTOR FUEL IF AGREEMENTS FAIL
DUBAI 00000432 001.2 OF 002
1. (U) On October 10 the Iranian press service ISNA reported
comments by AEOI Spokesman Ali Shirzadian on Iran's options for
acquiring fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR).
2. (U) The ISNA article's title was: "AEOI Spokesman in Talk
with ISNA: Various Ways of Procuring Fuel for the Tehran Reactor
Are Being Looked At; If They Don't Give 20 Percent [Enriched]
Fuel, Iran will Itself Act to Provide Fuel." A loose
translation of AEOI spokesman Shirzadian's main comments are as
follows:
- [referring to Iran's proposal to provide fuel enriched to 5.3
percent in exchange for 20 percent enriched fuel] This is a
practical pro posal and it was agreed in the discussions that
various ways for providing fuel be looked into.
- The amount of fuel that this reactor needs is 150 to 300
kilograms, depending on its level of operations. This reactor
is the main provider of needed medical isotopes in Iran and its
[current] fuel is sufficient for a period a little over a year
and a half.
- [in stating that Iran's national interests are paramount in
the deal to provide fuel for the TRR]: We will decide based on
national interests and technological progress, and a technical
report for confirmation and final approval will be submitted to
Iran's officials after carrying out discussions and
investigations.. As such, it is agreed that there will be
discussions on how to carry out this work at the October 19
meeting among Iran and several countries to include America,
Russia, France and the IAEA.
- [Question: Why couldn't Iran buy twenty percent enriched fuel
as it did 16 years ago from Argentina]: One of the proposals was
providing 5.3 percent enriched fuel and receiving 20 percent
enriched fuel.. Iran has complete enrichment technology at its
disposal and as such will sit at the negotiating table with a
full hand and with power.
- [Question: What will Iran do if, for whatever reason in the
future, the probable contract to provide fuel for TCC is
cancelled, like other contracts that up until now these
countries have had with Iran which have cancelled or
postponed?]: At that time we will write a letter and announce to
the IAEA that Iran will itself act to provide fuel for the
Tehran Reactor.
- From an economic viewpoint it is most economical for us to
purchase the TRR fuel from one place instead of acting to set up
a production line to change five percent enriched uranium to
provide 20 percent enriched uranium for 200 kilograms. For
this reason we told the IAEA that we need this much fuel and the
IAEA Director General carried out some actions in this regard.
- Iran is an IAEA member and the IAEA is present in the
discussions relating to providing fuel for the TCC, and this is
a guarantee for the implementation of a probable fuel agreement.
The question of how much ability the IAEA has to defend
agreements reached under this international agency's framework
and guarantee their implementation goes back to the Agency
itself. If tomorrow or one day America wants to create problems
with such an agreement it is not a matter for Iran and the IAEA,
but relates to America and the IAEA.
- We enter these negotiations as a technical organization and
pursue dialogue. If an agreement is formed and for any reason
isn't implemented the stain is on the reputation of the IAEA and
DUBAI 00000432 002.2 OF 002
the countries scuttling the agreement.
- [Question: if the agreement isn't implemented, will Iran
itself produce the 20 percent enriched fuel for the TCC]: As I
said earlier, [in this instance] we ourselves would act [i.e.
provide the fuel], of course this action of Iran's would be
under the supervision of the IAEA.
- [Question: what guarantee exists that the IAEA itself will
live up to its agreements in that in relation to the modalities
of settling up the remaining issues with Iran it has not acted
according to its obligations]:
Most of the IAEA's members agree that Iran's activities are
peaceful and legal and that Iran has always cooperated with the
IAEA, and the chance of exercising severe political pressure on
Iran and on its cooperation in the f uture with the Agency is
very slight. At the same time we are not as pessimistic as you
and we interact with good intentions, while from the technical
viewpoint we are empowered.
Definitely their positive steps will have a positive influence
on wide future cooperation between the western world and
developing countries, because these countries see the Islamic
Republic of Iran as a defender of their nuclear rights who has
taken a stand opposing imposition of conditions outside of
international norms and has insisted on achieving its explicit
rights.
EYREAE