The heavy water production plant in Arak will be commissioned in two-three years, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi said at the opening ceremony of the first courses on nuclear cardiology, the Fars news agency reported.
Medical radioisotopes, which will be produced at the plant in the future, will fully satisfy the country's demand in them, moreover, Iran can export them to neighboring countries, Salehi added.
"But, yet we are forced to import isotopes from abroad due to the fuel problems at the Tehran research reactor," Salehi said." We will begin to import radioisotopes from Russia in the coming weeks."
Iran constructs the reactor in the Hondab area in the Markazi province. A heavy water production plant Katran was built near the site of the reactor. AEOI Deputy Head Mohammad Saeedi said Iran become the ninth country in the world, which have mastered the technology for producing heavy water.
The United States and other Western countries accuse Iran of developing nuclear weapons for military purposes under the guise of a peaceful nuclear energy program. Tehran denies the charges, claiming that its nuclear program is aimed solely at meeting its electricity needs.
The U.N. Security Council adopted six resolutions in connection with the suspension of Iran's nuclear program. Four involve the use of economic sanctions against Iran.
The U.N. Security Council adopted the last resolution against Iran on June 9. The resolution provides for making new sanctions against Tehran in connection with its refusal to cease uranium enrichment. This is the fourth resolution adopted by the council due to Tehran's unwillingness to comply with international requirements regarding its nuclear program.