Written question asked by Matthew Offord (Conservative) on Thursday, 3 February 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 7 February 2011. It was answered by Liam Fox (Conservative) on Monday, 14 February 2011 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Iran: Nuclear Power

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the development of Iran's heavy water research reactor.

Answer: Iran is constructing a 40 megawatt heavy water reactor near Arak. Iran says this reactor, also known as the IR-40, is primarily intended for medical purposes. This type of reactor could also be used for plutonium production, and the UN has assessed the heavy water research reactor programme as proliferation sensitive. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that construction is continuing in violation of UN Security Council Resolutions (most recently UNSCR 1929 of 2010), which require that Iran suspend its proliferation sensitive uranium enrichment and heavy water-related projects. The UK continues to implement all UN Security Council resolutions relating to Iran and shares the concerns of the IAEA.

Secondary information