Iran set to export radioisotopes

“We announced at the IAEA's last year conference that considering Iran's mastery of the radioisotope [production] technology, [the country] is ready to export this nuclear product following the commencement of work of the reactor in [the city of] Arak,” IRNA quoted Soltanieh as saying on Wednesday.

The Iranian envoy made the remarks on the sidelines of the eighth International Energy Conference in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

The diplomat pointed out that Iran would be able to produce various kinds of radioactive isotopes (radioisotopes) once the 40-megawatt reactor is launched, which would enable Tehran to share the products with other countries through the IAEA.

“The produced radioisotope is currently for internal use which can meet the needs of neighboring countries in the field of medicine once Arak's reactor is launched,” Soltanieh further noted.

The news comes a day after IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano released a new report about Iran's nuclear activities.

The nine-page report, circulated to IAEA member states ahead of a Board of Governors meeting next month, reaffirmed that despite constant inspection of the country's nuclear facilities over the past eight years, no diversion has been detected in the Islamic Republic's nuclear operations towards any military objectives.

On June 9, 2010 the UN Security Council passed a resolution imposing a fourth round of sanctions on Iran over unverified allegations -- from the United States and its allies -- that the country is pursuing a military nuclear program.

Iran has rejected the allegations, saying that as a member of the IAEA and a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, it has right to have nuclear energy and technology for peaceful purposes.