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The following excerpts are from an Al-Jazeera TV report on Tehran’s nuclear reactor, which aired on May 28, 2010.
Reporter: In the center of the Iranian capital of Tehran, it towers high, since its construction some four decades ago. It was built by American engineers as an installation for nuclear research. This is the Tehran medical research reactor, which, according to the Iranian version, produces medicine and radioisotopes.
Ahmadi Montazeri, Tehran Medical Research Reactor: The reactor does not have a limited life-span. If it undergoes repairs on time, like in our case, it can be operated for a long period of time.
Reporter: The reactor operates at a power estimated as 5 megawatt. The Iranians say that the reactor operates at its maximum capacity in order to produce radioisotopes for the diagnosis of certain diseases. Isotopes can be used to treat some forms of cancer, by means of low-level radiation. According to Tehran, hundreds of thousands of patients are dependent upon the medicine produced by such reactors, and they want to provide this medicine to them.
Hossein Khalafi, Tehran Medical Research Reactor: The reactor was built for research purposes, and in order to manufacture a small amount of radioisotopic medicine. However, in order to deal with a shortage in these products, we have begun to produce medicine at an industrial level, in order to save lives.
Reporter: The reactor needs nuclear fuel for operation and production purposes. According to the deal recently reached between Iran, Turkey, and Brazil, Tehran will send 1, 200 kg of low-enriched uranium to Turkey, in exchange for 120 kg of enriched nuclear fuel, which will enable it to operate the reactor.