AEOI head:

Iran, Italy eye joint investment in quantum tech. project

TEHRAN (defapress) – Iran’s nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi and Italy’s Minister of Science Valeria Fedeli met in Rome on Mon. and called for closer cooperation in sectors of science, industry and advanced technology.

News ID: 66262

Date: 10 October 2017 - 10:29

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi, who headed a delegation to Rome on Thursday at the invitation of Italian officials, held a meeting with the country’s Minister of Education, Universities and Research Valeria Fedeli on Monday.

Speaking to reporters, Salehi deemed his meeting with Fedeli "positive” and "fruitful”, noting Italy’s keen interest in expanding cooperation with Iran in the fields of science, industry and advanced technology.

"During the meeting, we conferred on various areas for cooperation and called for joint investment in special projects, such as the quantum technology project which was decided to be studied in fuller details,” Salehi said.

The Italian minister of education, for her part, highlighted the importance of the nuclear deal for her country, voicing Rome’s strong support for the international agreement.

She also expressed hope for further development of bilateral cooperation between Iran and Italy following the visit of Iranian nuclear chief.

Following his meeting with Fedeli, Salehi paid a visit to Italy’s National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) near Rome. During the tour, he observed the institute’s advanced electron and nuclear accelerators.

On Tuesday, Salehi is slated to deliver a speech at the 20th Edoardo Amaldi Conference which is held under the theme of "International Cooperation for Enhancing Nuclear Safety, Security, Safeguards and Non-Proliferation”.

The conference also held a session on Monday dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the IAEA and of the Euratom Treaty with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, and the IAEA chief Yukiya Amano as key speakers.

During the session, Amano confirmed Iran’s nuclear-related commitments under the nuclear agreement and Federica Mogherini in a video message deemed the nuclear deal a win-win solution, stressing that the agreement does not belong to just one or two countries.

The two official’s strong support for the nuclear deal and confirmation of Iran’s implementation of the agreement came as the US President Donald Trump said Tehran was not living up to the "spirit” of the agreement and speculations are high that he will decide to decertify the deal in his Oct. 15 report to the Congress.