IRAN'S NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT

N - 12 April 2022 - Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi said on 9 April that Iran's nuclear technology is 'irreversible' and research in the field will not be tied to other's requests. He was speaking at a ceremony revealing nine nuclear achievements as part of the National Day of Nuclear Technology, where he visited the exhibition of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI).

Speaking at the ceremony, AEOI head Mohammad Eslami said the AEOI had assessed the past and current state of the organisation was preparing a comprehensive strategic document for the nuclear industry. Other documents had also been prepared concerning the development of human resources, the use of radiation in agriculture and food, and the development of nuclear power, including the construction of 10,000MWe indigenous nuclear power plant.

Eslami also stressed the need to submit a Country Programme Framework Document (CPF) to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which he said was being prepared and would be submitted to the IAEA after completion.

He said he was proud to announce that AEOI had added about 77 new achievements to its total in the past year, including 29 related to the field of nuclear fuel, 19 related to research and development, 15 related to energy supply and 14 related radiation application. Nine of the main achievements were described in detail.

The comprehensive strategic plan.

Compilation of technical knowledge and construction of the first sample of silicon fuel plates to replace the fuel of Tehran research reactor.

Design and construction of a pistachio detoxification system using cold plasma technology to eliminate fungi and bacteria to enable export of this product.

Designing and manufacturing a cold plasma system for the treatment of cancer, to target cancer cells selectively.

Production of the radionuclide terbium-161 without added carrier, in which radioactive particles are attached to the tumour using a special carrier depending on the type of cancer.

Labelling of Pentagzifor radiopharmaceutical kit with gallium-68 radiopharmaceutical under the brand name of Pars Sixafor, design, synthesis and formulation of gallium 68-FAPI radiopharmaceutical under the brand name of Pars Gallopapi to diagnose more than 28 types of incurable cancer and all its metastases.

Production of fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) kit for labelling with lutetium-177, gallium-68 and technetium-99.

Acquiring technology to produce sustainable zirconia powder, which can be used in various industries.

Designing and manufacturing micro-machining laser springs to make small parts with very high precision.

Eslamie added that the coming year would follow a comprehensive programme to deepen industrial self-sufficiency, including 10MW and 40MW research reactor projects, as well as the first all-Iranian 360MWe nuclear power plant to be built at Darkhovin in Khuzestan province.

On the talks between Iran and the IAEA on the unsolved issues related to Iran's nuclear programme, Eslami said that Tehran had submitted the required documents and an IAEA delegation would visit Iran to review the responses. He expressed hope that unsolved issues about four sites would be solved by the end of the year, as one of the places have been clarified and three others would be clarified by mid-June.

In his speech, President Raisi said the many sanctions, threats and oppressions inflicted on Iran “did not and will not stop us”.

He said: "On the National Day of the Nuclear Industry… we announce that peaceful nuclear activities will continue to move in the direction of increasing progress, relying on creativity and innovative measures.”

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