President Unveils Nuclear Achievements

President Ebrahim Raisi unveiled nine new nuclear achievements during a ceremony and exhibition of the industry on Saturday to mark the 16th National Nuclear Technology Day. 
He described the Iranian scientists’ progress in the nuclear sector as a source of pride and an example of reliance on domestic capabilities, calling for the spread of such spirit to other strategic industries. 
Iran upholds a right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, he added, stressing that the current level of knowledge and expertise in this sector is irreversible. 
“Iran will not allow its research and development in the peaceful nuclear sector to be subject to the will or opinion of others,” he said. 
The comprehensive strategic document and its appendices, first uranium silicide fuel pellets for the Tehran Research Reactor, cold plasma technology for pistachio detoxification and cancer treatment, and radionuclide terbium-161 for local tumor treatment were among the nine unveiled achievements. 
Others included radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis of 28 cancer types, stable zirconia powder for various industries and micro-machining laser source for building tiny parts. 
The mentioned technologies were some of around 77 achievements of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran over the past year, according to the AEOI head, Mohammad Eslami. 
Among them, 29 were in the field of atomic fuel, 19 were in research and development, 15 in energy supply and 14 in the application of radiations, he said during the ceremony, IRNA reported.  
Besides the comprehensive strategic document, which has been prepared for a 20-year vision, three other development documents were also unveiled by the president during the ceremony, namely on expanding human resources, increasing the use of radiations to cover all production sectors, and developing atomic electricity generation.
The AEOI also plans to generate 10,000 MW of nuclear power, promote the application of radiation technologies, and construct a fully-indigenous 360,000 megawatt power plant in the southwestern Iranian city of Darkhovin, Eslami said. 
“The world must know that we think of exponential progress,” he said. 

Int’l Cooperation

Eslami said the AEOI has also been active in balancing the country’s international cooperation, particularly with the International Atomic Energy Agency. 
The absence of a Country Program Framework, for instance, has prepared the ground for enemies to call Iran’s nuclear activities into question by making constant allegations, according to the nuclear chief. 
“This document is also being prepared and will be submitted to the IAEA as soon as it is completed,” he said. 
A CPF is prepared by an IAEA member state to reflect national development plans and priorities, ensuring that the application of nuclear technologies is integrated with existing development initiatives and plans. It generally covers a period of four to six years.
The atomic organization has also put on extra effort to thwart enemy plots to influence the IAEA and direct interactions toward an atmosphere of professional behavior, Eslami said.
As part of such efforts, it agreed on a series of exchanges with the IAEA in early March to eventually close the case of outstanding safeguards issues that has created trouble for the country for so long. 
The agency claims to have found particles of processed uranium at three apparently old sites that Iran never declared and has repeatedly said Tehran has not provided satisfactory answers.
The AEOI has sent documents which are being reviewed by the agency at the moment. The case is expected to be closed by June, before a meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors.
Iran’s nuclear activities have been a means of putting pressure on Iran, especially by the West who accuses the country of seeking to build an atomic weapon, an objective Tehran strongly denies.  
Under a multinational deal in 2015, Iran agreed to place curbs on its nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief, but the United States then abandoned the deal and reimposed those restrictions and more. 
Tehran has been advancing beyond the limits of the deal in response, but maintains that all steps are reversible as soon as sanctions are verifiably removed. 
Negotiations have been underway in Vienna, Austria, for a year to work out how both sides can resume compliance, although they have been stalled for a month over a few remaining issues.