In its last ditched effort to mollify the international community over its alleged disputed nuclear programme, Iran had completed watering down and converting more than 200 kilograms (440 lb) of enriched uranium under a deal reached in Geneva last November.

 

“Based on the agreement with the West, we were supposed to have half of our 200 kilogram stock of uranium diluted and the other half converted to uranium oxide,” Iran’s atomic chief, Ali Akbar Salehi, told the media persons today.The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) informed that Iran has decided to cut its most sensitive nuclear stock by nearly 75% in executing a milestone pact with global powers, but a planned facility it will need to fulfil the six-month deal has been delayed.

 

Salehi, chief of Iran’s atomic energy organisation, revealed the fast process of uranium conversion was expected to speed up the release of frozen Iranian properties in the West.

 

Under the landmark accord that took place on 20 January, Iran cut down some aspects of its nuclear programme in lieu of a limited easing of international sanctions that have laid low the major oil producer’s economy.If it abides by with the provisional deal, Iran will obtain a total of $4.2 billion in revenues long frozen oversees, in eight instalments over the January-July period. Including Japan’s latest payments, it has received $2.55 billion. South Korea, another importer of Iranian oil, has made one payment.