In this manner, Iran exploits the war on Gaza and Yemen
Iran has commenced the construction of a new nuclear research reactor in Isfahan, just days after announcing the establishment of a complex for nuclear power stations in the south, capitalizing on the world’s preoccupation with the wars in Gaza and Yemen to continue the development of its nuclear program.
The Iranian news agency “IRNA” quoted the head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Islami, as saying, “Today, the process of pouring concrete has begun to lay the foundations of the reactor in Isfahan.”
The agency stated that the new research reactor, with a capacity of 10 megawatts, is being built to create a powerful neutron source, while the Isfahan Nuclear Research Center in central Iran currently houses three main reactors.
It added that it will have a range of applications, including fuel and nuclear material testing, production of industrial radioactive isotopes, and radioactive pharmaceuticals.
Tehran has been subjected to stringent US sanctions since 2018 when former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the historic nuclear agreement that eased sanctions on Iran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear activities to prevent it from developing a nuclear bomb.
Iran consistently denies having aspirations to develop nuclear weapons and asserts that its activities are for peaceful purposes.
In a related context, Iran successfully launched three satellites using the ‘Simorgh’ satellite carrier rocket developed by the Iranian Ministry of Defense last week for the first time.
Iranian media reports mentioned that one satellite weighs 32 kilograms, while the other two weigh ten kilograms each. The three satellites were sent into an orbit approximately 450 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. Reports indicated that the two smaller satellites are intended for testing narrowband communications and geographic location technology, raising concerns among European powers that Tehran might use missile technology to develop long-range ballistic systems.
Iran rejected European countries’ condemnation of the launch of the Zafar satellite, stating that developing peaceful space technology is its legitimate right.
Many international entities have criticized Iran and accused it of abandoning resistance in Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq, alleging that it seeks to achieve maximum political and diplomatic benefits from the wars waged by its affiliated militias.
