Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran announced that his country had received a large delivery of “yellow cake” from Russia nearly 197 tons of of uranium concentrate powder needed for the enrichment process, in exchange for 11 tons of low enriched uranium (LEU).
Salehi said that Iran had carried out the exchange with Russia in accordance with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s letter regarding compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Protocol of Action (JCPOA), which instructed that Iran first take delivery of the yellow cake before exporting the LEU.
Salehi also expressed his hope that the JCPOA would be implemented soon, leading to the lifting of all sanctions on Iran, and to the restoration of its international standing to “normal.”
Moreover, Iran produces uranium domestically from its mines at Gacchin and Saghand. Estimates from a recent report by the IAEA and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development indicate that Iran domestically produced 35 tons of uranium in 2015 and will increase that figure to between 90 and 118 tons annually by 2020.
While Iran’s long-term research and development plans have been approved by the IAEA and the parties involved in the nuclear deal, there is no plausible way those plans could justify the acquisition of several hundred tons of yellowcake.
Here arises the question ,will Iran remain committed to the nuclear deal after the end of President Barack Obama’s term in office?
