Iran Advances nuclear Self-Sufficiency, Prioritizes Russia Partnership
Table of Contents
Focus on Domestic Production and Russian Collaboration
Iran is strategically focusing its nuclear cooperation on Russia, with previous discussions with China currently paused, according to recent statements. This shift underscores Iran’s commitment to achieving complete self-sufficiency in nuclear power plant construction.
Currently, Iran operates one nuclear power plant that has been running for eleven years.Two additional plants are under construction, demonstrating meaningful progress in expanding its nuclear energy capacity. Plans are also underway to explore both large-scale and small modular reactor (SMR) technologies.
Manufacturing Capabilities Expand
A key element of Iran’s strategy is the increasing domestic production of critical nuclear components. The 300-megawatt plant currently under construction in Darkhovin is notable for utilizing domestically manufactured steam generators, boilers, vessels, and turbines. This capability allows Iran to handle both equipment manufacturing and maintenance in-house, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.
Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesperson and deputy of the Atomic Energy Institution of Iran (AEOI), affirmed the nation’s ambition to become entirely self-reliant in building nuclear power plants.
Radiopharmaceuticals and future Outlook
While Iran does not currently export nuclear power itself, it has established a presence in the international market thru the production and export of radiopharmaceuticals. This demonstrates a level of technological sophistication and manufacturing capability within Iran’s nuclear sector.
Kamalvandi expressed optimism about the future of Iran’s domestic nuclear energy development, indicating a promising trajectory for the nation’s energy independence and technological advancement.
