An Iranian nuclear official said Monday that Tehran has
conducted research into nuclear fusion, the state-run television
reported.
"Iranian nuclear scientists are trying to catch up the advanced
world in using nuclear energy through nuclear fusion," Sadat
Hosseini, who runs the technical department at the Nuclear Research
Center of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, was quoted as
saying.
"Iranian scientists have firstly tried nuclear fusion five years
ago," he added.
Through nuclear fusion, multiple nuclei join together to form a
heavier nucleus.
The process of nuclear fusion is accompanied by the release or
absorption of energy depending on the masses of the nuclei
involved.
Nuclear fusion is employed by certain kinds of atomic bomb. The
announcement came during a current visit of Russian Security
Council Secretary Igor Ivanov for talks with senior Iranian
officials on its disputed nuclear issue.
Tehran is under intense international pressure to stop its
uranium enrichment and the United States accuses Iran of using its
civilian nuclear program as a cover to achieve an atomic bomb. Iran
denied the charge and insisted its nuclear program is only for
peaceful use.
Meanwhile, Foreign ministers of the five permanent members of
the UN Security Council plus Germany are expected to meet on
Thursday in Vienna to discuss the Iran nuclear issue, local media
reported on Monday.
The meeting aims to reach a consensus among the six nations on a
new package of both incentives and penalties, in a bid to persuade
Iran to give up current activities of uranium enrichment.
The six nations achieved some progress in formulating a common
position at the meeting on the Iran nuclear issue in London last
Wednesday.
(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2006 )
