Foreign Suppliers to Iran's Nuclear Development

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Foreign Suppliers to Iran's Nuclear Development

Fuel Fabrication

Yazd:

• In 1987, Argentina's INVAP concluded an agreement to construct a pilot-scale fuel fabrication plant. This project was cancelled by Argentine President Carlos Menem in 1992.[1]

Sharif University:

• In 1991, Germany's Leybold negotiated to sell Iran a vacuum arc furnace.[2]

Unspecified Locations:

• In 1997, China expected to complete its zirconium tube factory project in Iran "in a relatively short period of time."[3]

Notes:

1. "INVAP Fears Bankruptcy after Shipment Is Halted," Nuclear Engineering International 37 (June 1992), p. 12; "Argentina Strikes a Deal with Iran," Nuclear Engineering International 32 (July 1987), p. 4; Richard Kessler, "General Atomic, INVAP Explore Research Reactor, Nuclear Ties," Nucleonics Week, April 4, 1992, p. 15.

2. This item has weapons, non-weapons, and nuclear fuel cycle applications. Hence, the transfer is also listed in the "Acquire or Design and Fabricate Other Non-Nuclear Parts" section of this interactive factsheet. Mark Hibbs, "IAEA Inspectors Revisit Iran: ‘Nothing on the Ground,’ U.S. Says," Nucleonics Week, March 14, 1994, p. 7.

3. Mark Hibbs, "China Agrees to End Nuclear Trade with Iran When Two Projects Complete," NuclearFuel, November 3, 1997, p. 3.