Iran to launch plant for converting Uranium gas into oxide in June

Iran is planning to start up a plant in the second half of June that will convert low-enriched uranium gas into an oxide, as required by a landmark deal with the six major world powers in November 2013, diplomats at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.
Under last year's interim accord with the Sextet of the world powers in Geneva to help ease tensions over Iran's nuclear program, Tehran needs to take action by late July to limit its stockpile of uranium gas.
Earlier this month in a report by the IAEA, Yukiya Amano, the IAEA Director-General, voiced his satisfaction in the measures taken by Iran in the implementation of a 7-article agreement signed by Tehran and the UN body in February, and informed that the IAEA is analyzing information provided by Tehran.
The report mentioned seven main developments in the relations between Iran and the IAEA.
In relation to the Framework for Cooperation, on 20 May 2014, Iran and the Agency reached agreement on five additional practical measures to be implemented by Iran in the next step by 25 August 2014, the report said.
According to the report, the IAEA has continued to undertake monitoring and verification of Iran's nuclear-related measures set out in the Joint Plan of Action  cut in Geneva late in November 2013.
The report said that since the joint plan of action took effect, Iran has not enriched UF6 above 5% U-235 at any of its declared facilities. As a result of dilution and conversion that has taken place over the same period, Iran’s stock of UF6 enriched up to 20% U-235 has decreased from 209.1 kg to 38.4 kg.
The report said that enrichment of UF6 up to 5% U-235 continues at a rate of production similar to that indicated in the Director General’s previous report. No additional IR-2m or IR-1 centrifuges have been installed at FEP, FFEP or PFEP (production area).
The amount of nuclear material that remains in the form of UF6 enriched up to 5% U-235 is 8475 kg.
The report said no additional major components have been installed at the IR-40 Reactor and there has been no manufacture and testing of fuel for the reactor.
The IAEA's report concludes that managed access continues to be provided to the Agency to centrifuge assembly workshops, centrifuge rotor production workshops and storage facilities.
A day after issuance of the IAEA's report, Spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi described the agency's report on Iran's nuclear activities as "a step forward" in Iran-IAEA cooperation, and said it underlines Tehran's non-diversion and transparency.
He said that the IAEA report indicates that Iran has been committed to its undertakings within the framework of both the Geneva agreement inked by Tehran and the world powers in November and the joint statement issued by AEOI Chief Ali Akbar Salehi and Amano in February.
"This report points to the Islamic Republic of Iran's good cooperation and the IAEA's satisfaction in the trend of cooperation between Iran and the IAEA in settling past and present issues," Kamalvandi said.
The report is noticeable compared to the previous reports due to the fact that it reflects Iran's confidence-building measures and transparency well and therefore, it is considered as "a step forward" in the trend of cooperation between Iran and the IAEA, he added.