Iran's nuclear progress stems from guidance, support of martyred Leader: AEOI chief

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says the Islamic Republic's nuclear industry has achieved its current level of progress through the guidance and support of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

In a televised interview on Tuesday, Mohammad Eslami said that long-term strategic policies devised under the martyred Leader laid the foundation for the development of nuclear technology and power generation in the country.

He noted how, pursuing those policies, Iran continued to advance, despite sustained efforts by enemies to obstruct the country's progress.

“Despite all the obstacles and difficulties that Iran's enemies have created to prevent the country from succeeding, and despite the numerous operations they have carried out since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, by God's grace, this objective, namely the country's progress, has been realized, and Iran's standing has been transformed,” he stated.

Turning to the country's scientific and technological development, Eslami said the martyred Leader had consistently backed strategic sectors, including nuclear technology, from the outset.

“In both the defense sector and strategic fields that contribute to national strength, such as nuclear technology, the martyred Leader stood firmly from the very beginning with remarkable perseverance.”

He said the country's general policies had been drafted with a view to long-term planning, noting that they had called for the expansion of nuclear power generation and research into nuclear fusion decades before the technology gained broader international attention.

“The country's general policies were formulated with extraordinary foresight. Even at that time, the general policies in the field of energy specifically called for the development of nuclear power plants and nuclear fusion technology. Today, thirty years later, fusion technology is regarded as a new source of virtually limitless energy, comparable to the energy of the sun," he said,

"The developed world is now pursuing this technology at great speed, with countries actively engaged in research in this field. Yet our martyred Leader issued these directives three decades ago,” he added. 

Nuclear power expansion

Eslami said the martyred Leader first emphasized the need to reach 20,000 megawatts of nuclear electricity generation capacity in 2007, describing the target as a continuing national priority.

He said the first unit of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in southern Iran is currently in operation, while construction of the plant's second and third units is underway.

According to Eslami, plans have also been prepared to build additional nuclear power plants along Iran's southern coastline, in Khuzestan Province, which is likewise situated in the south, and the northern Iranian Golestan Province, with environmental studies partly completed and projects now entering the contracting phase.

He added that engineering contracts have already been signed for a planned 5,000-megawatt nuclear power plant in the southern Iranian Hormozgan Province.

“This project forms part of the plan to achieve the target of producing 20,000 megawatts of nuclear electricity by the [Iranian calendar] year 1420 (which starts on March 20, 2041), a goal that has been among the martyred Leader's stated priorities since 2007.”

Eslami said that under Iran's long-term development plan, additional nuclear power plants are expected to begin entering service around 2030 and 2031 to help supply electricity for industry and households.

Economic and environmental benefits

Highlighting the performance of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, Eslami said the facility has generated 80 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity since becoming operational.

According to the official, producing the same amount of electricity using fossil fuels would have required more than 130 million barrels of oil, valued at roughly $10 billion at approximate market prices.

He also said the plant has generated economic returns equal to about two and a half times its initial investment over its 12 years of operation, while retaining an estimated operational lifespan of another 50 years.

“This demonstrates the plant's strong economic viability as well as its significant environmental advantages through reduced pollution.”

Medical applications of nuclear technology

Eslami said the country's nuclear program extends beyond electricity generation, pointing to its role in healthcare through the production of radiopharmaceuticals.

According to the AEOI chief, the organization's product portfolio now includes about 80 radiopharmaceuticals supplied to medical centers and nuclear medicine facilities under an agreement with the country's Food and Drug Administration.

“Approximately 1.5 million people benefit from these products each year."

He added that Iran also exports radiopharmaceuticals when scheduled air transportation is available, saying exports are interrupted only when suitable transportation routes are unavailable.

Concluding the interview, Eslami pointed to the extensive farewell and funeral ceremonies that have gone underway to honor the martyred Leader, saying the turnout demonstrated that Iranians are a well-informed nation.

“The massive public turnout and the slogans chanted by participants sent a clear message to Iran's enemies, enemies whose actions have shown that they have no commitment to humanitarian or ethical principles and pursue only their own interests," he stated.

“With this awareness, they (the nation) have chosen a path that brings dignity to themselves and their country, while continuously enhancing the nation's strength."

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