Iranian leader: P5+1 members to help modernize Arak reactor

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday that two member states from the group of world powers that negotiated a landmark nuclear deal with his country are set to help upgrade the Arak site, which critics say could produce plutonium for a nuclear weapon.

Rouhani, who spoke at a conference of health companies, claimed that the July nuclear deal was giving a boost to the country’s nuclear program, the semi-official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

“Thanks to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a rapid growth has occurred in research, development and new knowledge in the field of peaceful nuclear energy,” he said.

The report did not note if Rouhani had revealed which of the so-called P5+1 nations — the US, Britain, France, Russia, China, plus Germany — would be providing the expertise to modernize the Arak reactor, although Russia has been instrumental in developing Iran’s nuclear program.

Under the terms of the nuclear deal signed in mid-July, Iran agreed to redesign its Arak reactor to ensure it can’t be used for producing weapons-grade plutonium as a side-product to generating electricity.

By agreeing to delay its ability to produce nuclear weapons for a decade, Iran is to receive relief from harsh international economic sanctions.