Iran's nuclear technology advances despite Western sanctions

TEHRAN - Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Fereidoon Abbasi said Monday that Iran has made progress in the field of nuclear technology despite the US- engineered sanctions against the Islamic republic, Press TV reported.

"We are self-sufficient in discovery, extraction and production processes (of nuke-related materials) and we do not need (help from) other countries," Abbasi was quoted as saying.

The West has accused Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons under the guise of its civilian nuclear program, a charge Tehran has consistently denied.

On Monday, Abbasi stressed that "when a country acquires the nuclear technology, it shows that it has gone beyond the boundaries of basic technical and engineering sciences."

"We have made good progress in the design and construction of reactors, and Arak's heavy water (facility) is fully operational, and the country's nuclear energy program and fuel cycle are being developed using indigenous know-how," said the Iranian official.

The remarks by the Iranian official were made two days ahead of the scheduled meeting between Iran and a delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over the remaining issues of Iran's nuclear activities.

Both the IAEA and Iran announced progress in their December talks toward an agreement that the IAEA believes would allow it to resume inquiry into the nuclear facilities in Iran.

The IAEA said it looked forward to finalizing the framework in the new round of discussions in Tehran on January 16 and starting implementing it soon.