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Iran plans to use nuclear technology in marine industry

14 February 2017 16:42 (UTC+04:00)
Iran plans to use nuclear technology in marine industry

By Kamila Aliyeva

Iranian Defense Minister, Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan has called for using nuclear energy for marine propulsion in manufacture of heavy vessels, as well as submarines.

Dehqan said that environmental issues should be considered while developing propulsion devices. The official made the remark while addressing a conference on marine propulsion in Tehran this morning, ISNA news agency reported.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani earlier ordered the country’s Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) to start certain nuclear activities. Under the order, the AEOI was tasked to start developing systems for nuclear-powered marine vessels.

The move came as a response to a vote by the U.S. Congress to renew a piece of legislation against Iran that was deemed by Iranian officials as a violation of the nuclear deal reached in 2015.

Nuclear experts said that President Rouhani's action if carried out, would probably require Iran to enrich uranium to a fissile purity above the maximum level that was set in the nuclear deal.

Tehran’s intentions could bring tensions into the relations with Washington, already aggravated by U.S. President Donald Trump's negative attitude towards the nuclear deal, under which Iran curbed its nuclear fuel production activities in exchange for relief from economic sanctions.

The talks on the Iranian nuclear issue began in 2004, as Western nations were accusing Tehran of developing a "secret military nuclear program. Since 2006, negotiations with Iran were led by the "six" of international mediators (the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany). A number of resolutions were adopted requiring Iran to stop enriching uranium with nuclear proliferation purposes. These resolutions were progressively accompanied by restrictive measures to persuade Iran to comply. In 2006-2010 the United Nations, the United States, and the European Union implemented several packages of sanctions against Iran.

Lengthy negotiations resulted in the adoption of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the fulfillment of which could completely remove previously lifted economic and financial sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council, the United States, and the European Union. The long-anticipated deal was achieved in Vienna on July 14, 2015, that committed Iran not to produce weapons-grade plutonium for 15 years, to keep no more than 300 kg of enriched uranium to 3.67 percent, and to convert nuclear facilities and use them exclusively for peaceful purposes.

In December, Washington prolonged the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) by the United States that passed in 1996 and was set to expire on December 31, 2016.

The Bill on the extension of sanctions came into force without President Barack Obama's signature. Although Obama refused to sign it, he expressed no veto claims. Thus, the Bill became law as it had been passed by both chambers of the U.S. Congress by an overwhelming majority.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

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