The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says Iransits atop significanturanium reserves following recent exploration of mines in the country.
In an interview with ICANA on Saturday, Ali-Akbar Salehi said that Iran had recently made great achievements in exploring natural uranium mines.
I cannot speak about the level of the countrys uranium mine reserves. It is noteworthy, however,that before aerial exploration [for uranium mines] we were not very hopeful. But fortunately following the [recent] explorations, the volume of deposits is promising, Salehi said.
He added that uranium exploration testinghas so far been conducted onmore than 63 percent of Iran, expressinghope that it would be completed within four years.
The Iranian nuclear chief also said the country has already started extracting uranium from Saghand minein the central province of Yazd, adding that uranium extraction was also set to begin at a mine in the city of Ardakan in the same province in the near future.