Ahmadinejad visits heavy water nuclear reactor

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran says President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has visited a planned nuclear reactor that’s part of a growing dispute between Tehran and the UN’s atomic agency.

The official IRNA news agency said Ahmadinejad’s visit Sunday coincided with the beginning of operations to install the main cap at the heavy water reactor in Arak, about 255 kilometers (152 miles) southwest of Tehran.

Fereydoon Abbasi, the head of Iran’s atomic energy agency, said during the visit that the reactor was scheduled to go into full operations mode by March.

Unlike Iran’s lone Russian-built reactor, heavy water-type reactors do not need enriched uranium to operate. They also produce more plutonium, which could be used to make warhead material.

Iran insists it only seeks reactors for energy and medical use. The West and its allies fear Iran could develop nuclear weapons.

The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency has urged Iran to suspend work on the reactor, which could begin operations next year.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.