The Arak IR-40 heavy water reactor in Iran. Photo: Nanking2012 / WikiCommons.

AP –  As Iran started to shut down its most sensitive nuclear work on Monday, the White House praised the “concrete actions” that represent “an important step forward.”

“These actions represent the first time in nearly a decade that Iran has verifiably enacted measures to halt progress on its nuclear program, and roll it back in key respects,” said press spokesman Jay Carney in a statement released Monday. “Iran has also begun to provide the IAEA with increased transparency into the Iranian nuclear program, through more frequent and intrusive inspections and the expanded provision of information to the IAEA.”

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