Russia hasn’t stopped cooperation with Iran in Fordow: Iran

Iran says Russia has not retreated from cooperating with Iran at Fordow enrichment facility, rejecting claims that a recent halt in the Russian contribution has been prompted by US sanctions.

According to Press TV, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said Monday the cooperation has been halted because of “technical” issues which are being sorted out by Iranian and Russian experts.

The United States restored sanctions against Iran after unilaterally leaving a multilateral nuclear agreement to which Russia is a signatory.

In November, Washington cancelled a waiver for international cooperation in Fordow, including Russia's reconfiguration of the enrichment facility to produce stable isotopes used in clinical studies.

Iran, meanwhile, has resumed injecting gas to centrifuges at the facility as part of its decision to scale back its commitments to the nuclear accord.

Moscow has said it needs time to react to the new circumstances at Fordow. Russia contends that gas injection to the centrifuge cascades in the same premises where stable isotopes are to be produced has hampered the original plan of reconfiguration.

“The main reason for the halt is simultaneity of two operations. The Russian side is trying to find out whether both can be undertaken at the same time,” Mousavi said on Monday. 

Russian nuclear reactor builder Rosatom said earlier this month that it had stopped reconfiguration work at Fordow.

Prisoner exchange 

Mousavi also said less than 3,000 Iranians are held in prisons abroad, while Iran holds a number of foreign nationals in its custody. The Islamic Republic, he said, is prepared to exchange prisoners with other countries on “humanitarian grounds.”

"We are ready for an exchange with the US, the ball is in the American court," he said after Iran swapped this month an American citizen held for espionage for an Iranian scientist imprisoned in the United States while on a sabbatical. 

Mousavi said American prisoners in Iran are held for the obvious security and spying convictions, while "a number of our citizens being held hostage are in US prisons for false charges."  

He touched on the Foreign Ministry's travel warnings advising Iranians, especially academics, not to visit the United States. 

"Foreign Ministry makes recommendations on the basis of its inherent goals and we have recently recommended that students and university professors be cautious in their visits to America even if they hold a visa or have an invitation," Mousavi said.

The spokesman touched on the case of Iranian stem cell scientist Dr. Masoud Soleimani who returned home last week after languishing more than a year in American prisons. 

“Mr. Soleimani had traveled to the US normally and legally, but he was illegally held in prison for 14 months on hollow charges,” Mousavi said.

ME