Head of Iranian Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi: Our New 20%-Enriched Nuclear Fuel Increases Reactor Production, Can Fuel Future Reactors

In a January 13 interview with the Iranian broadcasting authority, the Head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, discussed Iran’s new 20%-enriched nuclear fuel. He said: “[The new fuel is] in keeping with modern fuel [standards]… [It] increases the production of the reactor. We will be able to provide fuel for any other reactor we will build, like the Tehran reactor.” The report also claimed that Iran has begun the production of raw nuclear materials for PET scans. Salehi's comments were posted online by Fars News (Iran).

Reporter: The head of the Atomic Energy Organization reveals new achievements by our nuclear scientists, including a new design of a 20-percent (enriched uranium) modern fuel and the production of raw materials for PET scans, in the field of nuclear medicine.

Ali Akbar Salehi: [So far] we have produced this fuel according to the old [system], but now we are producing the 20-percent fuel in keeping with modern fuel [standards]. The design of the fuel changes a little bit and increases the production of the reactor. We will be able to provide fuel for any other reactor we will build, like the Tehran reactor.