Progress in Iran: access to heavy water reactor

"Inspectors have been allowed to visit the IR-40 heavy water research reactor for the first time in a year as Western relations with Iran appear to be picking up.

The renewed access relieves one of the significant stresses between the international community and Iran, which is working hard in pursuit of indigenously nuclear fuel cycle capabilities.

Iran had been refusing to allow IAEA experts to verify that IR-40 was being built according to announced plans. This was not in breach of in breach of the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) because no nuclear materials were yet on site, but it did violate the Additional Protocol to the NPT that extends access for this kind of purpose.

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Last year a package of incentives was presented to Iran as a 'last chance' by China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and USA as well as the European Union, but it now looks as though fresh talks could be possible. US President Barack Obama has called for direct diplomacy and Iranian officials are saying they want to talk about a range of regional issues."

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP_Progress_in_Iran_access_to_heavy_water_reactor_2108092.html

If only we had John Bolton calling the diplomacy plays, we wouldn't be in this mess. :sarcasm: