Tehran nuclear reactor can continue operation for 20 years

A spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) announced on Tuesday that Tehran’s nuclear research reactor is able to continue its work for the next two decades.

“During the visits paid by the International Atomic Energy Organization (IAEA) experts and their negotiations with the authorities and experts of the center for nuclear science and techniques, it was announced that the reactor is able to continue its work for one or two decades,” Ali Shirzadian told reporters.

“Given the fact that Tehran’s reactor has not been operating with full capacity in the past, its installations and equipments have acceptable functioning,” Shirzadian noted.

“With the latest fuel stock, the reactor is able to continue its work with full capacity until the end of the next Iranian year (ending on March 20, 2011),” he reiterated.

Representatives from Iran, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and three western states (Russia, France and the US) held three days of talks in Vienna on October 19 on the supply of nuclear fuel for Tehran reactor which needs highly (20%) enriched uranium for producing radiomedicine.

Following the talks, the IAEA offered a deal to Iran on the supply of fuel for the reactor. The IAEA-brokered deal is expected to supply uranium enriched up to 20 percent for the Tehran reactor which provides over 200 hospitals across the country with medical isotopes for treating cancer.