Iran removes core of reactor 'key to nuke deal'

Iran has removed the core of its Arak heavy water reactor as the major step toward removal of international and western sanctions against the country, Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, said on Thursday.

The core of the reactor was removed on Wednesday and the gaping holes of the central part of the reactor were filled with concrete, Kamalvandi told state IRIB TV.

The inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), who are currently in Iran, will start the verification process on Thursday, he said, adding that the "implementation" of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) will begin soon.

With the implementation of the JCPOA, "the oppressive sanctions will be removed and we will witness good economic era," he said.

On Wednesday, Iran announced that it has unassembled a significant number of its uranium enrichment centrifuges.

The nuclear agreement, JCPOA, clinched on July 14 between Iran and the P5+1, (Britain, China, France, Russia and the US plus Germany), is expected to put Iran on the path of sanctions relief, but more strict limits on its nuclear programme.