Iran Says Modifying Arak Reactor To Ease Western Concerns
Iranian media say Tehran has started to modify its Arak heavy water reactor and limit plutonium output to allay Western concerns that the Islamic republic could be seeking nuclear weapons capability.
The ISNA news agency on August 27 quoted Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran's nuclear program, as saying modification of the Arak reactor is "in the process of being carried out" to ease the "worries of certain countries."
Western governments fear that the reactor could potentially provide Iran with weapons-grade plutonium.
Earlier this year, Iran pledged to modify the reactor to produce 1 kilogram of plutonium a year instead of 8 kilograms as originally planned.
Under an interim nuclear deal with world powers, Iran has agreed to scale back its nuclear program in return for a partial lifting of Western sanctions.
