Director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi told reporters on Saturday that the plan to build a major specialized nuclear hospital in the country has been approved by President Hassan Rouhani and construction work will soon get underway.
Salehi said that over one million patients in Iran use domestically-manufactured radiomedicines, adding “no other country in the Middle East has obtained the technology to produce radiomedicine, but we are actually exporting this product.”
The country’s nuclear chief added that under the GNP project, the radiomedicines produced by Iran will be standardized so that they will measure up to international standards and prepare the conditions for the Islamic Republic to become a major exporter of radiomedicines.
In 2014, Iran announced it had gained self-sufficiency in producing radiomedicines for the treatment of different diseases, cancer in particular. Iranian scientists have taken long strides in producing radiomedicine needed for patients after the western states banned their selling to Iran under sanctions.
Salehi also referred to the agreements signed with Russia on the construction of two nuclear power plants, adding “we will be in talks with the Russians on expanding cooperation in the near future to build several fuel assemblies annually.”
He also added that talks with China are underway on the construction of two other power plants in Iran, saying the assembly that the Islamic Republic would be building in Arak in cooperation with China will move the country several decades ahead due to the exchange of technology.
Salehi further deemed it a great achievement for Iran that it has now become a supplier of enriched uranium and heavy water, saying “by supplying these two products we can in turn purchase natural uranium.”