Jabar Ibn Hayan Laboratories (JHL) is a multipurpose research complex that conducts research on most aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle, including conversion, enrichment, purification, and reprocessing.
Iran conducted many experiments with undeclared nuclear materials at JHL, including at least 113 experiments involving UF4 (uranium tetra fluoride) that Tehran had imported from China in 1991.
The purpose of these activities was to produce uranium metal and gain know-how in nuclear material production. Since the production of uranium metal is a requirement for the use of HEU in nuclear weapons, these experiments raised questions about their relation to possible weaponization efforts. Iran also stored a small amount of separated plutonium at JHL, which it had separated from irradiated UO2 pellets.
According to a 2008 IAEA report, Iran transferred a few kilograms of low enriched UF6 from the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant to JHL. Iranian authorities claim that the “material will be used in conversion experiments for the manufacturing of UO2 targets to be irradiated in the Tehran Research Reactor for the production of radioisotopes for medical applications.” JHL has been a target of U.S. sanctions since 2005.
Source » nti