In a joint press conference with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Dr. Naeem Al-Aboudi, the head of the Iraqi Atomic Energy Authority, affirmed Iraq’s keenness on its right to peaceful use of nuclear energy and appreciated the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency in establishing a nuclear reactor for educational purposes.

The head of the Iraqi Atomic Energy Authority and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Naeem Al-Aboudi, emphasized Iraq’s right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and its employment in educational, developmental, and healthcare fields.

This came during a joint press conference with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, where Dr. Naeem Al-Aboudi clarified that the joint work with the agency to establish an Iraqi nuclear reactor for peaceful purposes will contribute to providing scientific and technological solutions in the fields of cancer treatment, combating desertification, addressing the climate change crisis, and water treatment.

He added that Iraq possesses qualified scientists to restore its role and right in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, noting that the past two weeks witnessed a visit from a team from the International Atomic Energy Agency to Iraq, culminating in the visit of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency to Baghdad to resume cooperation between the agency and the Iraqi Atomic Energy Authority, commending the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency in establishing a zero-power nuclear reactor for educational purposes and training students and researchers.

For his part, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, announced during the press conference the initiation of a new cooperation between the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iraq focusing on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, affirming the presence of a team from the International Atomic Energy Agency in Baghdad to work on achieving a peaceful nuclear energy program that complies with international standards, following the example of several countries in the region.

He revealed the intention of an Iraqi team of various specialties to visit the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna to formulate a roadmap for the Iraqi peaceful program, expressing his happiness with the launch of the “Rays of Hope” initiative, which aims to develop and train Iraqi medical personnel and students in various specialties to build the necessary capacities in nuclear medicine and health aspects. He also mentioned that a team from the agency visited Iraqi medical and health institutions specializing in radiation therapy and reviewed their needs in therapeutic, educational, and research aspects.

Government Media and Communication Department
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
March 18, 2024