Iranian Nuclear Chief: We bought nuke spare parts to rebuild later

"We told no one but the top man of the regime [Khamenei]," he said, "when our team was in the midst of the negotiations, we knew that [the Westerners] would ultimately renege on their promises."

Iran's nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi gestures as he speaks to Reuters during an interview in Brussels, Belgium November 27, 2018 (photo credit: YVES HERMAN/REUTERS)
Iran's nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi gestures as he speaks to Reuters during an interview in Brussels, Belgium November 27, 2018
(photo credit: YVES HERMAN/REUTERS)
Head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi spoke on Channel 4 TV in Iran on Tuesday and revealed Iran bought spare parts to replace the items it seemed to destroy during the steps made to ensure a deal with the West, MEMRI reported.
"We told no one but the top man of the regime [Khamenei]," he said, "when our team was in the midst of the negotiations, we knew that [the Westerners] would ultimately renege on their promises."
The Arak reactor, he said, was never meant to be put out of use. The cement poured into it was a ruse designed to fool the West and the tubes to which the cement was poured into were meant to be replaced later.
"I will be going to Ardakan. From there, we will transfer 30 tons of yellow cake to Isfahan," he said, "Ardakan has become operational."