Five national radioisotope-production plans unveiled in Iran

TEHRAN, Dec. 22 (MNA) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad officially unveiled five national radioisotope-production plans in a ceremony held on Wednesday.

These plans have been drawn up by Iranian scientists and researchers.

Radioisotope is a radioactive isotope which is used in physical and biological researches and therapeutics.

The radioisotopes to be produced in Iran are mainly used for diagnosis and treatment of various cancers or are used to alleviate cancer-related pains.

“A stormy (rapid) scientific movement has started in Iran,” Ahmadinejad said at the ceremony.

Today the Iranian nation has restored its “historic self-confidence” and started a major scientific movement, he said.

The administration pledges to facilitate this movement by removing the obstacles in the way of progress, he noted.

“Any country that is the standard-bearer of science in the world will be the standard-bearer of culture and politics as well,” he noted.

He went on to say that Iran’s production sector should be revolutionized, and this reform is dependent on science and technology.

“So we should trust domestic scientists and give them opportunity, because I believe in their capabilities.”

A number of senior officials like health, defense, and science ministers were present at the ceremony.

On the sidelines of the ceremony, the president also signed the contracts of four other major national plans in the areas of irradiation, medical, automotive, and civil aviation industries with the Ministry of Science, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Health, and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).

Iran has made large investment in scientific researches, making major technological, scientific, and medical advances over the past decade.