Russia lifts ban on export of nuclear technology to Iran

President Vladimir Putin has eased an
export ban on nuclear equipment and technology to Iran, a
Kremlin decree published on Monday showed, after Tehran
struck a deal with world powers on its nuclear program in
July.
The decree, issued on the same day as Putin arrived in Iran
on an official visit, said Russian firms were now authorized to
export hardware and to provide financial and technical advice
to help Iran with three specific tasks.
They were listed as helping it modify two cascades at its
Fordow uranium enrichment plant, supporting Iranian efforts
to export enriched uranium in exchange for raw uranium
supplies, and helping Iran modernize its Arak heavy water
reactor.
The decision follows a landmark deal between six world
powers and Tehran in July, under which Iran agreed long-
term curbs on a nuclear program that the West has suspected
was aimed at creating a nuclear bomb.
The deal will lift international sanctions on Iran in exchange
for at least a decade of curbs on the country's nuclear activity
including reducing the number of centrifuges used to enrich
uranium, and its enriched uranium stockpile.
Putin, who will attend a summit of gas exporting countries on
Monday in Tehran, is also expected to meet Iranian President
Hassan Rouhani and to discuss the Syria conflict.