Iran confirms enriched uranium transfer to Russia

Ali-Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), on Tuesday confirmed the transfer of 11,000 kg of low-enriched uranium to Russia under the July nuclear agreement.

Pursuant to the nuclear deal, "some 11,000 kg of enriched uranium was exchanged with 197,000 kg of yellow cake", Salehi was quoted as saying by state-run Tasnim news agency.

"We received the yellow cake first and then sent out the enriched uranium" and the exchange operation was completed in the past days, he said.

On Monday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said a ship carrying over 25,000 pounds low-enriched uranium materials departed from Iran for Russia, calling it "one of the most significant steps Iran has taken toward fulfilling its commitments," Xinhua news agency reported.

The shipment included the removal of all of Iran's nuclear material enriched to 20 percent that was not already in the form of fabricated fuel plates for the Tehran Research Reactor, Kerry said.

Under the nuclear deal reached by Iran and world powers in July, Iran is required to ship out all except 300 kg of low-enriched uranium.

The Iranian atomic chief expressed the hope that the accord titled "Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)" would be operational soon, to be followed by the lift of Western sanctions against his country.

The P5+1 group, namely the US, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany, reached the comprehensive nuclear deal with Iran on July 14.

The JCPOA would provide sanctions relief for Iran in exchange for limits on its controversial nuclear programme.