Iran, EU to build advanced nuclear safety center

The Islamic Republic and the European Union will start the construction of an advanced nuclear safety center in Iran in the near future, Iran’s nuclear chief says.

According to Press TV, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi made the remarks in a joint press conference on Saturday with European Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete, who is in Tehran to take part in the first-ever Iran-EU Business Forum on Sustainable Energy.

Salehi added that the nuclear safety center would extend services to regional countries as well.

He added that he has now held three rounds of talks with the EU commissioner over the past 1.5 years, adding that "very good achievements" have since been made and a large portion of the agreements have been implemented.

The AEOI chief noted that the more the interaction between the two sides, the sooner the agreements would be implemented.

Salehi said Iran and the EU also plan to set up a roadmap based on Euratom - a complementary research program for nuclear research and training.

According to this roadmap, Iran can use Euratom facilities in nuclear research and development, he said.

Salehi further said Iran and the EU plan to draw up a five-year plan for bilateral cooperation and noted that the union would "most likely" supply the €20 million credit required for the project.

He expressed hope that Iran and the EU would bolster their nuclear cooperation, saying the two sides plan to sign two agreements in this regard.

SS