WANA (May 06) – The Deputy for International, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, during a meeting with participants of the international media festival “Sobh”, addressed recent remarks by the U.S. President claiming that, due to Iran’s abundant oil reserves, the country has no need for nuclear energy. He emphasized that it is Iran’s legitimate right to possess peaceful nuclear technology.

 

The participants of the Sobh international media festival visited Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, toured an exhibition showcasing the latest achievements of the country’s nuclear industry, and met with Behrouz Kamalvandi, the Deputy Head of the organization.

 

During the meeting, Kamalvandi answered questions from foreign media representatives and responded to recent statements made by Donald Trump and the U.S. Secretary of State, which have drawn attention.

 

He noted that over 17,000 individuals are actively working in Iran’s nuclear industry across various cities such as Tehran, Bushehr, Arak, Karaj, Qom, Natanz, Yazd, and others. These professionals are not only involved in energy production and enrichment, but also contribute to sectors like healthcare, agriculture, industry, laser technology, and other advanced technologies.

 

Kamalvandi stated that Iran has made significant progress in various fields of nuclear technology. For example, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization visited the Qazvin Advanced Radiation Processing Center earlier that day to assess its latest developments.

 

He stressed that, according to the comprehensive strategic roadmap for the nuclear industry, Iran aims to generate 20,000 megawatts of nuclear electricity. The construction of nuclear power plants had stalled due to broken promises by European and American partners after the Islamic Revolution, and the situation was further complicated by the imposed war. Nevertheless, Iran completed and brought the Bushehr nuclear power plant into operation and is now actively constructing new nuclear plants across the country.

 

Addressing the critical issue of energy security in Iran, Kamalvandi said Iran cannot rely solely on fossil fuels like oil. He pointed out that nuclear energy differs in that it can be used for extended periods without causing environmental pollution. Based on these reasons, every country has the right to benefit from the advantages of nuclear technology.

 

He added, “Trump cannot decide whether or not our country should have nuclear energy. It is the Islamic Republic of Iran’s right to possess peaceful nuclear energy.”

 

The spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran emphasized that Iran operates under international obligations such as the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) and remains committed to it. Based on international law and the IAEA statute, countries have the inalienable right to peaceful nuclear technology.

 

He concluded by saying that Iran prioritizes the use of peaceful nuclear technology without discrimination compared to other nations.

 

In response to the U.S. Secretary of State’s claim that Iran is the only non-nuclear-armed country with enrichment capability, Kamalvandi clarified that this is incorrect, as countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, South Korea, Brazil, and Japan also engage in enrichment without possessing nuclear weapons.

 

He stressed that Iran has dedicated time to cooperating with the IAEA and increasing transparency. Inspectors have closely monitored Iran’s facilities and operations, which demonstrates the peaceful nature of the country’s nuclear activities.