Kazakhstan Could Store Iranian Uranium If US-Iran Nuclear Deal Is Reached

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said Kazakhstan is ready to accept Iranian enriched uranium reserves for storage if the United States and Iran reach an agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program, Orda.kz reports.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency made the statement in an interview with the Financial Times. According to him, the possibility was discussed during a meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana.

Grossi said Kazakhstan could serve as a stable location for storing Iranian uranium, as the country already hosts a low-enriched uranium bank under IAEA control. He noted that Kazakhstan therefore has a platform for the safe storage of nuclear materials.

According to the Financial Times, the matter concerns 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%. The fate of these reserves remains one of the key issues in negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

On May 26, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi at Akorda.

During the meeting, Tokayev expressed Kazakhstan’s firm commitment to continuing to make a practical contribution to international efforts to strengthen nuclear safety. In this context, he reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s readiness, exclusively in good faith, to contribute to resolving the situation surrounding the Iranian nuclear program if relevant international agreements are reached.

Original author: Rimma Karatayeva

Read also:

• Kazakhstan Adopts New Uranium Strategy to Supply Future Nuclear Plants
• How Long Will Kazakhstan’s Uranium Reserves Last?
• Kazakhstan May Begin Supplying Uranium to Finland