Norway helping Iran replace enriched uranium with natural ore

The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this week that the country is helping Iran replace low-enriched uranium with natural uranium ore to stay within the parameters of the international agreement reached earlier this year.

Under the agreement, the Iranian nuclear program can have up to 660 lbs. of low-enriched uranium suitable for electricity generation. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said approximately 132 lbs. of untreated uranium has been supplied, and Norwegian officials said excess enriched uranium has been transported out of Iran.

“Reducing the amount of low-enriched uranium is a key part of the agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, and it is important for making sure that Iran does not intend to develop nuclear weapons,” Foreign Affairs Minister Børge Brende said. “Norway is directly supporting the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and is thus playing a vital part in the implementation of the agreement.”

The Comprehensive Joint Plan of Action is an international agreement between Iran and the P5+1 countries that facilitates the development of a peaceful nuclear program in Iran and limits its nuclear enrichment capacity. Through this agreement, certain economic sanctions on the country will be lifted in exchange for the acceptance of limitations.