Iran commemorates national nuclear technology day

20th of the Iranian month of Farvardin, corresponding to April 9, marks Iran's National Nuclear Technology Day. On April 9, 2006, Iranian scientists succeeded in production of a complete nuclear fuel cycle in laboratory scale.

Upon the announcement of the accomplishment of Iranian scientists and experts in gaining access to uranium enrichment technology, to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Iran was enlisted among countries which have mastered uranium enrichment technology in the domain of peaceful nuclear activities.

Following this major scientific achievement, and upon the approval of the High Council for Cultural Revolution, and the hard efforts of Iranian scientists in gaining access to peaceful nuclear technology; April 9 was named as the Iranian National Nuclear Technology Day.

 Nuclear technology is tantamount to the ability to transform natural uranium to enriched uranium via fission of atoms; which maintains numerous scientific and industrial applications.

Nuclear technology is included in superior, hi-tech sciences. Currently, the influence of nuclear know-how on the life of mankind is irrefutable. In fact, nuclear technology can be considered as an essential and major element for sustainable development. Access to nuclear technology is the legal right of any country which has joined and is committed to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. In the current juncture in time, around ten countries have gained access to nuclear know-how. Nuclear technology maintains several applications. Hence, many countries have always aspired to gain access to nuclear know-how. In the past 50 years, nuclear technology has played a decisive and pivotal role in the development of industrial, agricultural, and medical realms. Usage of isotopes in identification and treatment of refractory illnesses; and usage of nuclear technology for production of electricity, high-quality materials and agricultural products are part of the applications of nuclear know-how.

Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, notes: We wanted to buy 20%-enriched uranium for ten years. We wrote a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and they set a number of conditions for us. At the time, I met and conferred with the then head of IAEA, Mr. Al-Baradei. He showed me the unofficial letter of the US and Russian officials. They had set numerous conditions for us in order to provide us with the 20%-enriched uranium. Upon returning to Iran, I informed the then president about this matter, noting that they have set conditions for us, and don't give us 20%-enriched uranium. I pointed out that we should roll up our sleeves and produce 20%-enriched uranium; otherwise Tehran reactor comes to a halt and production of radio-medicines faces difficulties. The then Iranian president told me to carry out this task, and we started to do so."

At the time, they claimed that Iran was bluffing and cannot produce 20%-enriched uranium. However, Iran accomplished this task in less than two years. Currently, Tehran reactor operates with 20%-enriched uranium. In continuation of these achievements, Iran managed to design modern 20% fuel for usage in Tehran reactor in mid-January 2019, for the first time.

These resounding accomplishments were made while the US made strenuous efforts to deal a blow against Iran and to halt Iran's peaceful nuclear plan.

Meanwhile, Iranian nuclear scientists, namely Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan; Masoud Ali Mohammadi, Majid Shahriari, and Dariush Rezainejad have been assassinated and martyred by the mercenaries of foreign powers. Moreover, numerous acts of sabotage have been carried out against Iran's nuclear scientific plans. However, the Iranian nation will never retreat an iota from their inalienable and unquestionable right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

The US president, Donald Trump, blatantly pulled the US out of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on May 8, 2018, and later imposed a number of illegal and illegitimate sanctions against the Iranian nation, despite of the fact that Iran voluntarily accepted a number of nuclear restrictions within 8-year, and 10-year and 15-year periods, and has fully cooperated with IAEA. Hence, JCPOA did not manage to fulfill Iran's legitimate interests in the nuclear domain, and in regard to annulment of the illegal sanctions.
Other members of the JCPOA; namely European countries, China, and Russia, after the US pullout from this agreement, called for a way to continue the implementation of JCPOA, without the US. Iran accepted this call, as long as Iran's interests in JCPOA are provided and maintained.

Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, in an interview with Euro News, noted: " If Iran decides to leave JCPOA; in addition to starting the 20% uranium enrichment within four days, we can make the preliminary arrangements for launching a factory for production of uranium metal."

Iran and three European countries, namely Britain, France, and Germany, reached a framework under the heading of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), based on which small financial, banking, and commercial companies and institutions in Europe, in the first stage, and all countries, within the next phase, would be able to carry out their financial and banking interactions with Iran. This agreement was expected to boost Iran's international cooperation and contracts in different realms. However, these conditions were not fulfilled.

The Leader of Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, in his keynote remarks, in the massive gathering of pilgrims of the Holy Shrine of 8^th Infallible Imam of the Prophet of Islam's Household, Imam Reza (AS), in the holy city of Mashhad, referred to establishment of a financial channel between Iran and Europe as largely resembling a bitter, meaningless joke.

The Leader of Islamic Revolution reminded that historical experiences, and observations made about the Western regimes' behavioral patterns, shows that one can expect conspiracy, betrayal, and backstabbing from them, but one should not expect assistance, honesty, and cooperation from them.

MR/MG