Iran says it will 'cold test' modified Arak nuclear reactor

Iran will soon “cold test” its redesigned Arak nuclear reactor before its full commissioning later this year, a spokesperson for the country’s nuclear agency said.

One of the requirements of the landmark nuclear deal struck between world powers in 2015 was that Iran dismantle its Arak heavy water reactor. The original reactor, located southwest of the capital, Tehran, was able to generate the amount of plutonium needed in a year to build two nuclear warheads.

Under the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran was required to redesign the reactor to put curbs on its plutonium output. But in May 2020, the Trump administration ended “civilian-nuclear cooperation” waivers that allowed European, Chinese and Russian companies to work on the reactor’s redevelopment without risking sanctions. 

"The work for redesigning the Arak Reactor slowed down with the withdrawal of the United States from the JCPOA, but the Chinese continued [the work]," Behrouz Kamalvandi told the Iranian Students News Agency on Friday.