Iran’s ambition to have sanctions removed in January is “not impossible”, Reuters quoted International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Director-General, Yukiya Amano as saying.

He explained that Iran was racing ahead with the required nuclear restrictions that included reducing the number of centrifuges installed at its underground enrichment sites, removing the core vessel of a reactor at Arak, and shrinking its stockpile of enriched uranium. Amano indicated that the agreed January deadline could be met.

In related news, Press TV reported that the Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi, had revealed that his country had received Russia’s consignment of yellowcake. In exchange, Russia is to receive nine tons of Iran’s low-enriched uranium within days in accordance with a deal reached in the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in July, he added.

Salehi explained further that since Iran could not stockpile more that 300kg of enriched uranium each year, it should either dilute its extra enriched uranium or sell it to other countries.