Remove restrictions on n-equipment transfer: Iran

Tehran, May 6 (IANS) Iran has called for the removal of all restrictions on the transfer of nuclear material and equipment meant only for commercial purposes, a media report said Tuesday.

Iranian Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Reza Najafi, speaking at the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference April 28-May 9, 2014 in New York, said that it is very important to initiate necessary methods to facilitate transfer of nuclear material, equipment and technology to Iran, IRNA news agency reported.

A team of inspectors from the IAEA had arrived in Tehran Monday for talks and visits to some of Iran's nuclear facilities.

An agreement during a meeting between the IAEA inspectors and the officials at the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) had reached to carry out inspections of the Arak heavy water plant in central Iran.

The Arak reactor, which uses natural uranium to produce radio medicine, is planned to gradually replace the Tehran Research Reactor, which produces medical radioisotopes for cancer patients.

The West had demanded the closure of the Arak heavy water plant over alleged concerns it may produce plutonium used in the manufacture of nuclear arms.

"The reactor will be redesigned to produce lesser amounts of plutonium, but it will remain a heavy water reactor," AEOI head Ali Akbar Salehi said.

A new round of expert talks between Iran and the P5+1 group- five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, China, Russia, France and Britain - plus Germany, will also start Tuesday in New York to discuss Tehran's nuclear energy programme.