High-level Iranian delegation visits ITER worksite

 

In August 2015, a few weeks after signing the agreement, Vice President Salehi was quoted saying: "This is my second time heading the Atomic Energy Organization (1). In my previous appointment, I made fusion our essential goal. It was given our highest priority because fusion is the future source of energy."

 

Iran has a longstanding fusion energy research program, which includes various approaches to fusion and the investigation of many applications of plasma technology.

 

In a September 2015 interview, Mahmood Ghoranneviss, who heads the Plasma Physics Research Center at Azad University and was part of the high-level delegation to ITER, gave some details on his country's fusion research program. "We have about 100 scientists who are working on fusion research in Iran," he said, "and there are over 150 PhD students working on plasma and fusion topics. Approximately 150 papers have been published by our graduate students in fusion."

 

On Friday—as the Iranian officials met with ITER management; toured the site; visited the Assembly Hall, the Poloidal Field Coils Winding Facility and the Cryostat Workshop; and entered the virtual reality room—they connected for the first time with the reality of the project.

 

And they were both impressed and enthusiastic.

 

"The ITER Agreement is open to any nation that wishes to contribute to the project," said ITER Director-General Bernard Bigot as he explained the history and governance of the international collaboration. "All decisions regarding membership and collaboration are subject to the unanimous consent of the ITER Council, the governing body of the ITER Organization."

 

The visit, however, was in no way the start of an official discussion or process. Rather, it was a meaningful way for the Iranian officials and scientists to more fully understand the nature and scope of the project as well as the status of progress in manufacturing and construction.