WANA (Dec 23) – Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman and deputy head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said Iran’s cooperation with Russia in nuclear technologies—particularly in the power generation sector—is extensive and continues to grow, as Tehran moves toward building nuclear power plants independently.

 

In an interview, Kamalvandi said Iran currently operates one nuclear power plant that has been in service for 11 years, while two additional nuclear power plants are under construction with Russian cooperation and have made significant progress. He added that beyond these three projects, Iran’s plans also include the construction of both large-scale and small modular nuclear power plants.

 

“Our cooperation with Russia is strong in various fields, especially in nuclear power plants,” Kamalvandi said, noting that collaboration also extends to other areas such as radiopharmaceuticals.

 

Focus Shifts Toward Russia

Commenting on technological cooperation with China, Kamalvandi said Iran had cooperation with Beijing in the past but currently maintains no significant engagement.

 

“At present, our main focus is on cooperation with Russia, particularly as we seek to develop domestically built power plants,” he said.

 

300-Megawatt Nuclear Plant Under Construction

Kamalvandi confirmed that Iran is currently building a 300-megawatt nuclear power plant in Darkhovin, stressing that the country’s industrial capabilities fully support such projects.

 

“The construction of a power plant requires equipment such as steam generators, boilers, pressure vessels, and turbines, all of which can now be produced domestically,” he said.

 

Building Nuclear Power Plants

The AEOI deputy head emphasized that Iran’s strategic objective is to become a full-fledged nuclear power plant builder. “We are working intensively to integrate all necessary components so that we can build our own power plants, while continuing cooperation with various countries,” Kamalvandi said.

 

Bright Outlook for Iran’s Nuclear Power Industry

Kamalvandi noted that while Iran does not currently export nuclear power plants, it does export radiopharmaceutical products. He stressed that Iran already manufactures key power plant components domestically and carries out maintenance operations independently.

 

“Our industrial sector enables us to produce major and critical equipment ourselves,” he said. “With these capabilities, we see a promising future for Iran’s nuclear power plants.”

A group of Khuzestani students gathered in front of the Darkhovin Nuclear Power Plant in Support of Uranium Enrichment. Social media/ WANA News Agency