Iran's nuclear industry has reached full maturity, says AEOI spokesman

Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and its deputy for international, legal and parliamentary affairs, said on Wednesday that Iran's nuclear industry has reached full maturity and that the country has achieved self-sufficiency in the construction of nuclear power plants. He made the remarks in an interview with the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRNN), according to Mehr News Agency.

Kamalvandi was elaborating on the significance of nuclear energy development globally and the participation of an Iranian delegation in the International Conference on Nuclear Power in South Korea. He said the global nuclear industry is divided into two sectors: energy and non-energy. The non-energy sector includes applications such as nuclear medicine, agriculture and industry, while nuclear power generation constitutes a significant part of the industry.

The sixth ministerial conference on nuclear energy is currently underway in South Korea, Kamalvandi noted. He said one reason for increased attention to the subject in recent years lies in global environmental challenges, which have become a serious concern for the international community and underscore the necessity of shifting toward nuclear energy. He added that with the development of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, digital technologies and the electrification of vehicles, demand for electricity is steadily increasing, making the expansion of nuclear power generation an undeniable necessity.

In technical terms, Kamalvandi explained, nuclear-generated electricity is referred to as "baseload" power. Unlike certain other clean energy sources such as wind and solar, where generation depends on atmospheric conditions, sunlight intensity or wind speeds, nuclear power plants provide stable and continuous electricity generation. This characteristic has further underscored the importance of developing such facilities, he said.

Regarding Iran's standing in the utilization of modern technologies, Kamalvandi stated, "Given my approximately 14 years of continuous service at the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, I can say with confidence that the nation's nuclear industry has reached full maturity, and we have now achieved self-sufficiency in the construction of nuclear power plants." According to Mehr News, the interview was conducted on Wednesday and covered Iran's participation in the South Korean conference as well as the broader case for nuclear power development.