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                       UN: Iran Cutting Nuclear Stockpile

   The United Nations nuclear watchdog chief says Iran has cut its stock
   of higher-enriched uranium that is closest to atomic weapons-grade.
   The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Yukiya Amano, said
   Monday that Iran had "reached the halfway mark" in efforts to dilute
   half its 20-percent-enriched uranium to a lower grade suitable for use
   as reactor fuel.
   Under an interim deal with the six world powers, the other half of the
   uranium is to be changed into a form that is relatively difficult to
   reconvert to 20 percent.
   Uranium enriched to 20 percent is only a technical step away from the
   90-percent level needed for weapons.
   The IAEA has a pivotal role in checking that Iran is living up to its
   part of the six-month accord in curbing its disputed nuclear program in
   exchange for some easing of sanctions that have impaired its
   oil-dependent economy.
   The deal, reached last year in Geneva, was designed to buy time for
   negotiations on a final settlement of the decade-old stand-off over
   nuclear activity that Iran says is peaceful but the West fears may be
   aimed at developing a nuclear bomb capability.
   Expert-level talks between the sides are to be held in Vienna March
   5-7.
   In return for implementing the agreement, Iran is gradually winning
   access to $4.2 billion of its oil revenues frozen abroad and some other
   sanctions relief.
   The funds will be paid out in eight transfers on a schedule that
   started with a $550 million payment by Japan on February 1. Last month,
   banking sources said South Korea was set to make two payments in March
   totaling $1 billion.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/un-iran-cutting-nuclear-stockpile/186
   2860.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/un-iran-cutting-nuclear-stockpile/1862860.html