Iran and Russia move to accelerate joint construction of small modular nuclear reactors

Iran and Russia are finalizing a protocol aimed at accelerating the joint construction of small modular reactors, as Tehran seeks to expand nuclear power generation and develop smaller, replicable reactor designs.

Behrouz Kamalvandi, deputy head and spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said Wednesday that Iran had made “good progress” in the field and that both sides were moving toward signing the new protocol.

“We are in the process of signing a protocol with the Russian side to accelerate the joint construction of this type of reactor,” Kamalvandi said.

He said small modular reactors can be replicated and produced in larger numbers, allowing multiple units to be deployed to meet growing electricity demand.

Kamalvandi linked the program to the wider push for cleaner energy, saying nuclear power could help reduce pollution while meeting rising consumption driven by technologies including artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and electric vehicles.

He also said Iran’s nuclear industry had reached “full maturity” and claimed the country had achieved self-sufficiency in nuclear power plant construction.

Kamalvandi cited the Bushehr nuclear power plant as an example of the environmental and energy impact of nuclear generation, saying it had prevented the release of about 86 million tons of pollutants and saved the equivalent of 132 million barrels of oil.

He also referred to damage to the under-construction Darkhovin nuclear power plant during the recent war, saying attacks on the project were intended to obstruct what Tehran considers symbolic achievements in its nuclear industry.

Iran and Russia already cooperate extensively in civilian nuclear energy, including at the Bushehr nuclear power plant, and the proposed SMR protocol would broaden that partnership into a newer generation of smaller nuclear reactors.