Research and development branch of the Moscow-based Research and Development Institute of Power Engineering (NIKIET), which was sanctioned (with its subunits) by the United States on January 8, 1999 for engaging in proliferation activities related to Iran’s nuclear and/or missile programs, and in February 1999 for materially contributing, or attempting to contribute, to a foreign country’s effort to acquire, produce and/or deliver weapons of mass destruction; the sanctions were lifted on April 1, 2004, but NIKIET remains on the U.S. “Entity List” of “end users [that] have been determined to present an unacceptable risk of diversion to developing weapons of mass destruction or the missiles used to deliver those weapons.”

Formerly known as SF NIKIET; primarily a reactor design institute that also performs basic research on nuclear power plants and space propulsion and determines characteristics of non-Russian reactors; has a 15 megawatt IVV research reactor and produces radioactive isotopes; reportedly exports radioactive materials; shares part of its perimeter and support systems with the Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP); employs approximately 500 persons; began its activities in 1966.

Source: / Iranwatch /