Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi who travelled to Japan last week for talks on nuclear safety cooperation, delivered a speech at Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) on Thursday on the topic of “Iran’s Nuclear Program; Challenges and Opportunities.”
“Clean energies, especially nuclear and renewable energies, without a doubt, should be a priority for all the nations who understand the risk of global warming and the scarcity of fossil energy. According to the computational models proposed by the IAEA -- ETSAP and WASP -- 8 to 12 percent of Iran’s joint energy basket should include nuclear energy,” said Salehi on the country’s need and right to peaceful nuclear energy.
Elsewhere in his speech, the AEOI head referred to Iran and 5+1 nuclear accord, adding “following the JCPOA, Iran will enter a new phase of nuclear activities with a brighter prospect. Under the JCPOA, Iran is not only entitled to the right to enrich uranium as mentioned in NPT, but the development of our activities in the fields of uranium extraction, fuel production and waste management will also be facilitated.”
Salehi then asserted that Iran is also planning to expand its peaceful nuclear energy in the fields of agriculture and medicine.
The AEOI head stressed the need for cooperation among countries in peaceful nuclear activities such as nuclear safety, exchange of technical knowledge and training specialists, adding Iran and Japan have many points of mutual interest to pursue in developing bilateral relations in these fields.
According to reports, over 150 political figures, researchers, heads of universities in the nuclear, Middle East and Iran studies departments as well as a number of Tokyo ambassadors and diplomatic missions to other countries were present during the conference.
Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) is one of Japan's most prestigious centers for political and international studies, affiliated with the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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