Armenia Submits Application to Join Civil Nuclear Technology Pact with US

WASHINGTON, DC — The United States has confirmed it is studying a request by Armenia to ink a deal that would allow Washington to transfer civil nuclear technology to Yerevan, CivilNet reports.

That could pave the way for the United States to design and build a new nuclear power plant in Armenia to replace the country’s aging, Soviet-era facility in the town of Metsamor.

“The U.S. Government does not share details of the negotiation process, but we can share that the State Department is giving Armenia’s request for a 123 Agreement the proper attention and due consideration,” a State Department spokesperson said in written comments to CivilNet Tuesday.

The spokesperson gave no other details on what they called “the internal process for U.S. government negotiations with other countries,” including a timeline for a final decision.

Under federal law, the U.S. government must sign what are known as Section 123 Agreements before it can export nuclear equipment or materials to other countries. The United States already has such deals with 48 countries and territories, according to a State Department fact sheet last updated in 2022, but those agreements do not cover Armenia.

This marks the first time either Armenia or the United States has publicly confirmed Yerevan is pursuing a Section 123 Agreement with Washington.

Earlier this summer, Armen Grigoryan, the head of Armenia’s influential Security Council, said “the ball is in the United States’ court” on nuclear matters, but did not elaborate.