PRESS RELEASE
Iran Signs Memorandum of Understanding with ITER Fusion Project
Nov. 5, 2016 (EIRNS)—Bernard Bigot, Director General of the ITER fusion energy project, during the first day of a two-day trip to Iran, today signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI), adding to the previous agreements for Iran’s participation in ITER. "Another agreement about details of cooperation between the two sides has been drafted," dealing with the "confidentiality of information" under which the cooperation will be implemented, said AEOI head Ali Akbar Salehi.
On the sidelines of the meetings, Bigot said the partnership will yield "win-win" results for both sides. "Iran is an important and advanced country that can have a significant collaboration in the mega project," said Bigot. "Iran’s participation in the project is significant, and the use of this technology will be in the interests of all countries." Bigot elaborated that.
"In the ITER project, we will be able to use the experience, capacities, and human resources of Iran, and on the other hand, give Iran the opportunity to access new technologies and improve its domestic capacities in the areas of science and technology."
It will be interesting to see what takes place when the agreement has to be approved by the ITER Council of all of the partner nations, which includes the United States. So far, it has been said that Iran’s joining ITER has been "welcomed" by the project’s members.
An interview with Iranian fusion scientist Dr. Mahmood Ghoranneviss, which reviews Iran’s fusion research, appeared in the Sept. 18, 2015 issue of EIR. A follow-up interview on Iran’s participation in ITER appeared in the Aug. 26, 2016 issue.
