Tehran, Iran, Aug. 23
By Milad Fashtami - Trend:
Iran plans to privatize its nuclear energy industry.
Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, invited the private sector to invest in the industry, Iran's IRNA News Agency reported on August 23.
"A couple of knowledge-based companies are currently cooperating with the government in the nuclear energy industry and we hope that they officially start their work at the field," he explained.
"The mentioned companies currently produce centrifuges with turbines for the health industry," he added.
Salehi made the remarks at the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of Isfahan's Enriched Uranium Dioxide Production Unit.
"Launching the Enriched Uranium Dioxide Production Unit is in line with Iran's agreement with the P5+1 group of countries," he noted, saying that unit enriches uranium dioxide up to 5 percent.
The official went on to note that domestic experts designed and constructed the unit.
Iran and the P5+1 group of countries sealed an interim deal in Geneva on November 24 to pave the way for the full resolution of the West's decade-old dispute with Iran over the country's nuclear energy program, Press TV reported.
The Geneva deal took effect on January 20 and expired on July 20. However the two sides agreed to extend their talks for four months till Nov. 24 to reach a permanent deal on Iran's disputed nuclear program.
In exchange for Iran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities, the US and its allies agreed to lift some of the existing sanctions against Tehran.