Atomic Energy Organization of Iran

Atomic Energy Organization of Iran
سازمان انرژی اتمی (Persian)
Sazman-e Energy-e Atomi

The AEOI flag
Established	1974
Type	Organization
Legal status	Active
Headquarters	North Karegar Avenue, Tehran, Iran
Head	Mohammad Eslami
Website	www.aeoi.org.ir

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) is the main Iranian government agency responsible for operating nuclear energy and nuclear fuel cycle installations in Iran. The AEOI is the primary organization responsible for nuclear technology research and development activities in Iran. ^[1] The AEOI was involved in formerly undeclared nuclear activities including enrichment facilities at Fordow and Natanz. ^[2]

The AEOI's headquarters are in the northern Amir Abad district in Tehran, but it has facilities throughout Iran. The current head of the AEOI is Mohammad Eslami, who replaced Ali Akbar Salehi on 29 August 2021. ^[3] In 2023, about 40% of Iranian scientists in the nuclear industry were women. ^[4]

Nuclear power plans

In July 2023, the AEOI Head Mohammed Eslami said that Iran planned to build nuclear power plants generating 20 GW in Khuzestan, Bushehr, Sistan, Hormozgan, and Baluchistan. ^[5]

Schools

There are thirteen atomic energy highschools and primary elementary schools. ^[6]

Research centers

• Photonics and quantum technologies institute. Formerly a laser research center, created in 1976. ^[7]

Divisions

• Nuclear Fuel Production Division (NFPD): Research and development on the nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium exploration, mining, milling, conversion, and nuclear waste management; departments include Jaber Ibn Hayan Research Dept., Exploration and Mining Dept., Benefication and Hydrometallurgical Research Center, Nuclear Fuel Research and Production Center, Waste Management Dept., and Saghand Mining Dept.
• Nuclear Power Plant Division (NPPD): Responsible for planning, construction, commissioning, decommissioning and nuclear safety of nuclear power plants in Iran.
• Engineering and Technical Supervision Department (ETSD): Design, review, evaluation and approval of engineering and technical documents, participation and quality control.
• Research Division: Responsible for planning and guiding research projects; has eight affiliated research centers: Nuclear Research Center, Research Center for Lasers and their Application; Nuclear Fusion Research Center, Gamma Irradiation Center, Center for Renewable Energy Development, Nuclear Research Center for Agriculture and Medicine (Karaj), Yazd Radiation Processing Center, and Bonab Research Center.
• International Affairs Department (IAD): Oversees cooperation with AEOI counterparts abroad and drafts documents on AEOI policies; maintains a delegation at the IAEA in Vienna, Austria and one in Moscow, Russia.

Presidents

#	President	Years
1	Akbar Etemad	1974–1979
	Ahmad Sotoudehnia (Acting)	1979–1980
	Fereydun Sahabi (Acting)	1980–1981
2	Reza Amrollahi	1981–1997
3	Gholam Reza Aghazadeh	1997–2009
4	Ali Akbar Salehi	2009–2010
	Mohammad Ahmadian (Acting)	2010–2011
5	Fereydoon Abbasi	2011–2013
6	Ali Akbar Salehi (second term)	2013–2021
7	Mohammad Eslami	2021–present

See also

• Nuclear program of Iran
• List of Iranian nuclear negotiators
• Nuclear Command Corps, a unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps tasked to protect Iranian nuclear facilities

General:

• Science in Iran
• Energy of Iran

References

1. "A review on the status and future trends of radiation processing in Iran". Archived from the original on 2021-09-17. Retrieved 2021-09-17.
2. "The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran: What Role?". Archived from the original on 2021-04-12. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
3. "Iran appoints pragmatist Salehi to head nuclear program". Reuters. 16 August 2013. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
4. "Iran's heavy water ranks first in word: AEOI Spox". Mehr News Agency. 2023-09-02. Archived from the original on 2023-09-02. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
6. "رییس سازمان انرژی اتمی ایران: مدارس انرژی اتمی را به مقطع ابتدایی گسترش داده‌ایم". ایران اینترنشنال (in Persian). 2023-08-02. Archived from the original on 2023-08-02. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2023-08-17. Retrieved 2023-08-31.

External links

• Official website
• About the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran on the NTI website
• About the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran on the Britannica website