Iran nuclear: Curbs on uranium enrichment begin
The heavy water plant at Arak is one of several Iranian facilities under the international spotlight Iran has begun curbing uranium enrichment, state TV says, under an agreement which will also trigger an easing of international sanctions.
It "is the major measure that we are undertaking" a senior Iranian official said.
The move is part of a deal reached with the US, Russia, China and European powers last November.
The process will continue with the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, confirming that Tehran has curbed enrichment.
This should pave the way for partial suspension of EU and US sanctions, allowing Iran to resume key exports.
By the end of the day, Iran should be able to restart petrochemical exports and trade in gold, worth billions of dollars.
The West accuses Teheran of seeking nuclear weapons, but it denies the claim, saying its programme is solely for peaceful purposes.
US warning"Voluntarily halting the production of 20 percent uranium enrichment is the major measure that we are undertaking on Monday by noon," Iranian nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi told the Iranian news agency, Irna.
Later on Monday, inspectors from the IAEA are likely to verify the deal's implementation by Tehran.
That conclusion is then expected to be wired to Brussels, the BBC's Europe correspondent Matthew Price says.
There ministers - including UK Foreign Secretary William Hague - are expected to lead their EU counterparts in voting unanimously in favour of a partial lifting of the sanctions which have been in place against Iran since 2006, our correspondent says.
Within an hour or two restrictions on Iran's trade would then be lifted.
On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said he hoped for "positive results for the country, as well as regional and global peace and security".
Under the terms of the agreement, reached with the permanent five members of the UN Security Council plus Germany, Iran has agreed to halt enrichment of uranium above 5% purity.
It will "neutralise" its stockpile of near-20%-enriched uranium.
In return, the world powers agreed to suspend certain sanctions on trade in gold and precious metals, Iran's automotive sector, and its petrochemical exports.
Senior US administration officials told the BBC last week that some of the sticking points that had been resolved in the past weeks centred on how often inspectors would be allowed to visit Iran's nuclear sites. Officials said as a result of the deal:
- From Monday, Iran will start diluting its stockpile of 20%-enriched uranium
- All 20%-enriched uranium will be gone within six months
- Daily access will be provided to the Fordo uranium enrichment site near the holy city of Qom
- Monthly inspections will be allowed at the Arak heavy water reactor
In return, US President Barack Obama has said the US and the other five powers over the next six months will begin to implement "modest relief" so long as Iran fulfils its obligations.
"Meanwhile, we will continue to vigorously enforce the broader sanctions regime, and if Iran fails to meet its commitments we will move to increase our sanctions," he said.
The current six-month agreement is designed to provide breathing space while a more permanent deal can be reached.
Sounding a note of caution, former deputy director of the IAEA, Olli Heinonen, said that if Iran decided to renege on the deal, it would only need two to three weeks to produce enough highly enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon.
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