„The joint American and Israeli military action against the genocidal regime in Teheran and Israel‘s crushing of Iran‘s terror axis have created the possibility to expand the circle of peace,“ Netanyahu said in the statement from his office on Thursday.
Archiv: Anreicherung (Atomtechnologie) / enrichment (atom technology)
Trump says Saudi nuclear deal is subject to the kingdom joining the Abraham Accords
„There will be no enrichment of material!,“ Mr. Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform, adding that the deal „will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords.“
The accords, first signed in 2020, have so far normalized economic and diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco. Kazakhstan agreed to join in November.
United States and Saudi Arabia Reach Historic Nuclear Cooperation Agreement
The two agreements also advance U.S. and regional security by upholding high standards of nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation and strengthening the United States‘ competitive edge in civil nuclear technology.
(…)
Under President Trump‘s leadership, America is restoring its competitive edge in the global civil nuclear marketplace. This agreement builds on President Trump‘s Executive Order, Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security, and specifically Section 8 on Promoting American Nuclear Exports, which supports an expansion of international partners for U.S. civil nuclear cooperation under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.
Trump to Seek Congress Approval for Saudi Arabia Nuclear Energy Pact That Lacks Safeguards, Sources Say
The agreement does not include the „Gold Standard“ that would block the kingdom from enriching uranium and reprocessing spent nuclear âfuel, both of which are potential pathways to nuclear weapons, said the sources familiar with the agreement.
The agreement also does not â include â the „Additional Protocol“ which grants the U.N.‘s â International Atomic Energy Agency âbroad and more intrusive oversight of a country‘s nuclear activities, such as the power to carry out snap inspections at âundeclared locations, said the sources, who â spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive issues.
Agreement says Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon „indefinitely,“ Trump admin official says
The senior official indicated that the United States is willing to allow Iran to use nuclear in a civilian capacity.
âWeâre not bothered at all by the idea of civilian power plants in Iran. What weâre bothered by is the type of infrastructure that would allow them to jump from civilian power generation to nuclear weapons development, and thatâs what theyâve had for a very long time,â they said.
Trump says deal with Iran is ‚very close‘
US President Donald Trump has told NBC News that a deal with Iran is „very close“.
âWe have a couple of points. They donât even seem like big points,â Trump said. âTheyâve conceded the fact that they will not have nuclear weapons. We had a clause in there that [they] will not develop nuclear weapons. And everybody was very happy with it except me.â
Trump says the U.S. will work with Iran to destroy its uranium if they can make a deal
(June 7, 2026, 1:00 PM GMT)
The two sides are âvery closeâ to signing a pact, Trump said, but he is pushing for Iran to go further in abandoning its nuclear ambitions.
âWe have a couple of points. They donât even seem like big points,â he said. âTheyâve conceded the fact that they will not have nuclear weapons. We had a clause in there that [they] will not develop nuclear weapons. And everybody was very happy with it except me.â
Trump said he wanted an additional provision to ensure Iran canât execute an end run around a deal.
âAnd I said, âWell, what happens if they, not develop, but they go out and purchase, they acquire? I want to put the word, âif they buy, purchase or acquire,ââ he said. âYou know, youâve got to have that in there, too, because thatâs not developing. So, they donât have the right to develop or purchase, acquire or buy.â
Iranâs scientific frontline against sanctions and cancer
(June 11, 2025)
Many radiopharmaceuticals, especially those used in PET scans, have very short half-lives. This means they decay significantly within a short period, reducing their effectiveness.
Consequently, the „last mile“ of radiopharmaceutical delivery, including transport, is crucial for maintaining the drug‘s potency and safety.
Speaking to IRIB TV3 on Monday night, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Mohammad Eslami explained that importing radiopharmaceuticals were impossible until recently.
This was because Western countries refused to provide radiopharmaceuticals to Iran due to sanctions, while regional airlines such as Qatar Airways did not undertake such shipments, he said.
Explainer: How Iran uses its nuclear technology to prevent metabolic disorders in newborns
(May 10, 2026)
Sixty percent enriched uranium, when fabricated into targets and irradiated in a research reactor, produces molybdenumâ99, a radioisotope that decays into technetiumâ99m.
This single isotope is used in tens of millions of medical procedures worldwide each year, including cardiac scans and cancer diagnostics that are essential to modern medicine.
Iran has officially declared this medical application, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) verified the conversion of a portion of Iranâs 60 percent enriched uranium into targets for molybdenumâ99 production in March 2022.
From Fusion to Life Saving Medicine: A Revolution in Isotope Production ~ The Journey of Mo-99
(April 9, 2026)
While nuclear fusion is often discussed as a future source of clean energy, companies like SHINE Technologies, based in Janesville, WI, are currently using its power to solve a critical shortage in medical imaging.
(…)
Tc-99m supports about 56,000 patient studies daily in the U.S., helping physicians detect heart disease, cancer, and other serious conditions.
(…)
SHINE announced it has received a conditional commitment for a loan of $263 million from the U.S. Department of Energyâs (DOE) Office of Energy Dominance Financing (EDF). If approved, the financing will support the completion of Chrysalis, a first-of-a-kind medical isotope production facility that will establish the first domestic commercial supply of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99).
Iran offers to move uranium abroad but rejects dismantling nuclear sites: Report
The report said Tehran would hand over nuclear material to a third country, provided it receives guarantees that the stockpile would be returned if talks collapse or if Washington withdraws from any agreement.
Iran also signalled it could gradually reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic in parallel with a lifting of the US maritime blockade, with nuclear issues to be negotiated over a 30-day period.
According to the report, Tehran is prepared to suspend uranium enrichment for a limited time, though for a shorter duration than the 20 years sought by Washington.
A deal to end the Iran war seemed close. Then Trump started posting on social media
One recent proposal from the Iranian side would involve a 10-year pause on enrichment, followed by another decade where Iran would agree to only enrich to levels well below weapons grade, according to a person familiar with the discussions. Meanwhile, Trump has told reporters that he wants no enrichment indefinitely and is against even the 20-year pause.
The Trump administration is also considering unfreezing $20 billion in Iranian assets as part of ongoing negotiations with Tehran, CNN previously reported. The step would come in exchange for Iran turning over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
How flexible each side is on their terms will ultimately dictate whether a deal can be reached.
Iran will enter talks with US only if framework agreed: Deputy FM
He reiterated Iranâs firm commitment to diplomacy even under the ongoing sensitive situation and urged the US to abandon its âmaximalist approachâ and respect international regulations in order to ensure „result-oriented diplomacy.“
Iran adheres to its commitments as per the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) but will never accept agreements which are not within the framework of international law, the diplomat emphasized.
âI have to be very crystal clear that Iran would not accept to be an exception from the international law. Anything that we are going to be committed will be within the international regulations and international law. We have responsibilities and rights,â Khatibzadeh stressed.
Iranian Researchers Acquire Know-How to Produce Molybdenum-99 Using Nuclear Technology
(May 29, 2024)
âMolybdenum is used to detect some diseases. Every week, hospitals and nuclear medicine diagnostic centers across the country need radiopharmaceuticals based on the use of technetium-m99, and more than one million patients benefit from technetium-m99 every year,â Ali Bahrami Samani, the project manager of the Molybdenum macro plan said.
(…)
âFurthermore, the hot cell facilities during the implementation of the molybdenum production plan using the method of neutron activation of molybdenum oxide were not suitable under the foreign sanctions for the rapid implementation of the industrial stage under special conditions. Also, given the restrictions imposed by the nuclear deal known as the JCPOA (Comprehensive Joint Plan of Action), it was decided that molybdenum production plan to be carried out in several stages,â the manager of the project further explained.
U.S. moves closer to establishing domestic supply of Mo-99 for nuclear imaging
(December 18, 2024)
The U.S. government has worked for several years to help establish a domestically produced supply of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99)to stabilize access to this critical radio-isotope used for more than 75% of medical nuclear imaging exams. The U.S. currently relies on 100% of its Mo-99 supplies from foreign reactors overseas, making the country‘s medical imaging supply chain vulnerable. This was the case in October and early November, when one of the key aging European reactors was taken off line for emergency repairs.
(…)
Historically, Mo-99 has been sourced from a handful of older research reactors outside the U.S., much of which came from the Chalk River reactor in Canada. But that 60-year-old reactor closed in 2018, and the reliance on reactors outside the states, including one Russian reactor for some medical isotopes, has left the U.S. vulnerable to supply chain disruptions.
âThe world depends on six reactors, many of which are decades old,â Cutler explained. âThese facilities coordinate their operations to minimize disruptions, but when maintenance issues arise, shortages can quickly follow.â
Donald Trump, Warmonger-in-Chief
Letâs be very clear about this: the United States is in this war because Trump was determined to drag the country into it no matter what. Mere hours before Trump launched it, the foreign minister of Oman, which was mediating the last-ditch talks on a nuclear deal that took place yesterday, revealed the enormous concessions the Iranians had made in negotiations: not just agreeing to not stockpile uranium, making it impossible to build a bomb, but diluting the uranium it currently holds and agreeing to full verification by International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors. These concessions would have gone well beyond what Barack Obama had extracted in his Iran deal, and they came paired with an explicit vow that Iran would never have a nuclear weapon â something that its leaders have constantly said over the decades, and repeatedly so over the past week.
Didnât matter.
âGood progressâ in Iran-US talks, but âmore difficultâ days ahead
(February 17, 2026)
Omanâs foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi, who has been mediating between Tehran and Washington, echoed that assessment. âTodayâs indirect negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America in Geneva concluded with good progress towards identifying common goals and relevant technical issues,â he wrote on X.
A U.S. official also acknowledged movement in the talks, telling Axios that the negotiations âmade progress,â but added that âthere are still a lot of details to discuss.â
U.S. and Iran Make âGood Progressâ in Geneva Talks, Foreign Minister Says
(February 17, 2026)
Indirect talks between American and Iranian officials in Switzerland ended on Tuesday with an agreement on a âset of guiding principles,â according to Iranâs foreign minister, who said both sides had agreed to exchange drafts on a potential deal.
The foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, was as positive as he was vague, providing little clarity on what had been discussed or when the next round of discussions might be held.
Garching: Forschungsreaktor bleibt bis auf Weiteres abgeschaltet
(December 2, 2025)
Zwar sei die frĂŒhe Auftragserteilung logisch, da allen Beteiligten bewusst war, dass der Zentralkanal regelmĂ€Ăig erneuert werden mĂŒsse. „Völlig unverstĂ€ndlich ist aber, wieso es in 13 Jahren nicht gelungen ist, ein weiteres Exemplar dieses Zentralkanals herzustellen, etwas was ja offensichtlich vor mehr als 20 Jahren noch möglich war“, sagte BĂŒchler.
Iran Standing among Top Producers of Special Device for Targeted Cancer Treatment
(June 24, 2025)
Noting that the product has been used in the world since 2013 and was monopolized by a US company that has FDA approval, he said, âNow this product has been indigenized in Iran in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and the Development Headquarters of Nanotechnology and Micro Technologies.â
âThe particle size of this product is less than ten nanometers and can move in the lymphatic system,â Shahcheraq said.
âThis product will first be delivered to the AEOI. Then, in nuclear medicine centers, it is labeled with technetium-99 radioisotope a few minutes before it is injected into the patient‘s body. After the product is labeled with a radioisotope, it is injected directly (into the tumor) or subcutaneously (in the lymphatic part) to the patient,â he explained.
Supply of medical radioisotopes
In line with its strategic objective, ESA leads the actions towards securing the supply of source materials for the radioisotopes production, thus actively contributing to the Strategic Agenda for Medical Ionising Radiation Applications (SAMIRA).
The Agency undertakes measures to ensure security of supply of high-enriched uranium (HEU) and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), required to feed the production of medical radioisotopes and to fuel research reactors. These strategic materials are currently not produced in the Community and must be imported from the US or the Russian Federation.
(…)
Radioisotopes are used in medicine for the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases, including some of the most important ones, like cancers, cardiovascular and brain disorders. Over 10000 hospitals worldwide use radioisotopes for the in vivo diagnosis or treatment of about 35 million patients every year, of which 9 million in Europe.
Technetium-99m (Tc-99m) is the most widely used (diagnostic) isotope.
Europe is the second largest consumer of Tc-99m, accounting for more than 20% of the global market.
U.S. government agencies work together to support domestic production of vital medical isotope
(September 8, 2025)
The U.S. Department of Energyâs National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the Department of Health and Human Servicesâ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are announcing new actions to support domestic production of the vital medical isotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99).
âWeâve spent years working with U.S. companies to reshore Mo-99 production using advanced technology that doesnât require weapons-usable nuclear material,â said Kasia Mendelsohn, NNSAâs Acting Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation. âBut NNSA hasnât been alone in its efforts. Other agencies and departments are a big part of aiding the rebirth of this innovative U.S. industry.â
Missiles and enrichment ban stay off the table
Araghchi says Iran may show flexibility outside its red lines as second round of US talks looms
Sorgenkind in Garching: Forschungsreaktor ohne Forschung
(January 12, 2026)
Wie kĂŒrzlich aus der Antwort des Wissenschaftsministeriums auf eine Anfrage der GrĂŒnen im bayerischen Landtag hervorging, warten die Garchinger schon seit fast 13 Jahren auf einen neuen Zentralkanal. Er war 2013 als regulĂ€r zu wechselndes Ersatzteil bestellt und sollte im Herbst 2014 geliefert werden, hieĂ es in der Antwort des Ministeriums.
Genehmigung der Bestrahlungsanlage zur Produktion von MolybdÀn-99
(August 18, 2022)
Weltweit werden jĂ€hrlich mehr als 30 Millionen medizinische Untersuchungen mit der radioaktiven Substanz Technetium-99m zur Diagnose von Tumoren durchgefĂŒhrt. Einen groĂen Anteil – etwa drei Millionen Untersuchungen – daran hat Deutschland. Zur Herstellung von Technetium-99m wird zunĂ€chst MolybdĂ€n-99 benötigt. Dieses kann international in nur wenigen Forschungsreaktoren (vier in Europa sowie jeweils einer in Afrika und Australien) hergestellt werden, es kommt deshalb seit Jahren immer wieder zu EngpĂ€ssen. FĂ€llt eine dieser Quellen aus, mĂŒssen die unter UmstĂ€nden lebenswichtigen Untersuchungen verschoben werden. Aufgrund der kurzen Halbwertszeiten von nur 66 Stunden kann MolybdĂ€n-99 nicht auf Vorrat produziert werden, sondern nur unmittelbar vor der Untersuchung.
Iranian Researchers Acquire Know-How to Produce Molybdenum-99 Using Nuclear Technology
(May 29, 2024)
âMolybdenum is used to detect some diseases. Every week, hospitals and nuclear medicine diagnostic centers across the country need radiopharmaceuticals based on the use of technetium-m99, and more than one million patients benefit from technetium-m99 every year,â Ali Bahrami Samani, the project manager of the Molybdenum macro plan said.
(…)
âFurthermore, the hot cell facilities during the implementation of the molybdenum production plan using the method of neutron activation of molybdenum oxide were not suitable under the foreign sanctions for the rapid implementation of the industrial stage under special conditions. Also, given the restrictions imposed by the nuclear deal known as the JCPOA (Comprehensive Joint Plan of Action), it was decided that molybdenum production plan to be carried out in several stages,â the manager of the project further explained.
UK nuclear revolution powers next-generation precision cancer therapies
(November 18, 2025)
UKNNL is the Governmentâs lead civil national laboratory for nuclear fission whose mission is twofold: to enable and deliver nuclear outcomes for government, and to support growth of the UK nuclear sector. A national asset operating ground-breaking technology through world-class expertise, UKNNL is enabling the supply of new sources of medical isotopes for the UK. It collaborates with researchers to investigate new treatments and diagnoses, including cancer,âŻAlzheimerâs andâŻcomplex heart conditions. The handling of nuclear material and extraction of isotopes are key capabilities and skills that UKNNL provides for the nation.âŻ
Radioisotope shortage could cause cancer treatment delays
(October 30, 2024)
Radioisotopes are mainly used for diagnosing cancer, including prostate and breast cancer.
(…)
The shortage of molybdenum-99 is caused by a sudden global disruption of manufacturing capacity, with several of the nuclear reactors used to produce these elements being out of service.
There are six trusted research reactors globally for the supply of molybdenum-99, none of which are in the UK.
Reaktor Garching darf mit hochangereichertem Uran weiterlaufen
(Juni 21, 2024)
Im Garchinger Forschungsreaktor werden normalerweise wissenschaftliche Experimente â etwa im Bereich Quantentechnologie oder ArchĂ€ologie – durchgefĂŒhrt. Daneben produzieren Kunden aus der Industrie zum Beispiel Radioisotope und Radiopharmaka fĂŒr die Krebsdiagnostik und -behandlung. Die TUM verweist aber etwa auch darauf, dass Forschende des spĂ€teren Corona-Impfstoffherstellers „Biontech“ in der Garchinger Neutronenquelle mRNA-Partikel untersucht hĂ€tten.
The Nuclear Kingdom: Assessing Saudi Arabiaâs Nuclear Behavior
(December 17, 2024)
Saudi Arabia has the characteristics of a nuclear hedger: a state that lays the groundwork for the active pursuit of nuclear weapons. Saudi Arabia has stated the conditions under which it would pursue nuclear weapons. It already possesses dual-capable delivery systems and seeks reactors to produce weapons-grade uranium. Its inability to enrich nuclear material alone prevents Saudi Arabia from gaining nuclear latency that it can rapidly convert into nuclear weapons. Saudi Arabia is best categorized as an insurance hedger that seeks to reduce the time needed to build a bomb. Regardless of the categorization of Saudi Arabiaâs hedging, its interest in nuclear weapons has entered a new, acute stage.
Saudi Push for Enrichment Raises Concerns
(November 2023)
The Wall Street Journal reported in September that Netanyahu directed Israeli officials to work with the United States on an agreement that includes Saudi enrichment, but such a deal still would face criticism in Israel. (…)
Given Saudi Arabiaâs public threats to develop nuclear weapons, it may be challenging for the Biden administration to gain support for any agreement that allows uranium enrichment, particularly if the kingdom does not have an additional protocol to its comprehensive safeguards agreement in place. Additional protocols to safeguards agreements were developed in the 1990s when it became clear from the cases of Iraq and North Korea that a comprehensive safeguard agreement alone was insufficient to prevent proliferation. An additional protocol gives the IAEA more access and information about a countryâs nuclear activities.
Forschungsreaktor darf mit hochangereichertem Uran weiterlaufen
(Juni 2024)
Der Forschungsreaktor war im Jahr 2004 als eine der wichtigsten
Neutronenquellen Europas fĂŒr Forschung, Medizin und Industrie in
Betrieb gegangen. Der Betrieb mit bis zu 93 Prozent angereichertem
Uran war bis Ende 2010 genehmigt, dann sollte auf maximal 50 Prozent
umgestellt werden. Mangels dieses Brennstoffs wurde der Betrieb bis
jetzt aber von den Behörden weiter genehmigt.
«Es geht hier um extrem wichtige Forschungsinfrastruktur fĂŒr Bayern,
Deutschland und Europa», betonte Minister Blume. Die in Garching
gewonnene kerntechnische Expertise sei beispielsweise entscheidend
fĂŒr medizinischen Fortschritt.
Reaktor Garching darf mit hochangereichertem Uran weiterlaufen
(Juni 21, 2024)
Im Garchinger Forschungsreaktor werden normalerweise wissenschaftliche Experimente â etwa im Bereich Quantentechnologie oder ArchĂ€ologie – durchgefĂŒhrt. Daneben produzieren Kunden aus der Industrie zum Beispiel Radioisotope und Radiopharmaka fĂŒr die Krebsdiagnostik und -behandlung. Die TUM verweist aber etwa auch darauf, dass Forschende des spĂ€teren Corona-Impfstoffherstellers „Biontech“ in der Garchinger Neutronenquelle mRNA-Partikel untersucht hĂ€tten.
Iran reaffirms commitment to peaceful nuclear development despite attacks
In a post on its official account on the social platform X, the AEOI declared: „Iran stands firm… Relying on the determination of our nuclear scientists, we will continue the path of developing peaceful nuclear technology with strength and resolve. The cowardly attacks by enemies are no match for the will of this nation.“
How Research Reactors Help Make Medical Imaging Possible
(August 10, 2020)
From reactor to patients
Research reactors are reactors that, instead of generating electricity, are primarily used to produce neutrons for other applications. These neutrons can be used for various purposes, such as to produce 99Mo by irradiating uranium-235 targets.
Being a radioisotope, 99Mo is an unstable atom that undergoes decay. It takes 66 hours for half of any 99Mo produced to decay â this is known as its half-life. The decay product of 99Mo, also called its âdaughter productâ, is 99mTc.
To get 99mTc, the irradiated uranium-235 targets are moved to a processing installation, usually near a research reactor, to separate 99Mo from the other fission products and purify it. The purified 99Mo is then transported to a production facility for 99Mo/99mTc generators â devices used to safely hold, transport and chemically extract 99mTc from 99Mo directly on site at a hospital or other medical facility.
What Is Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99)?
Our fusion-based medical isotope production system produces high-specific-activity molybdenum-99 using a proprietary fusion-fission process, without the need for a conventional reactor and the use of inefficient highly enriched uranium. We believe that our production of Mo-99 in the United States will mitigate, if not prevent chronic shortages by producing the isotope in an efficient, clean, low-cost manner compatible with the existing radioisotope supply chain.
What is molybdenum-99 used for?
Molybdenum-99 is the parent isotope of technetium-99m, a gamma-emitting isotope used as a radioactive tracer in medical imaging procedures such as SPECT scans. Tech-99m is used in tens of millions of medical diagnostic procedures around the world every year. It is a critical medical tool for diagnosing heart disease, bone disease, and cancer.
Tech-99m has a very short half-life; of any given supply, nearly all of it will decay in under a day. Its short half-life makes it extremely useful as a tracer, but also makes it impossible to stockpile
Leader: Iranâs nuclear enrichment is none of Americaâs business
The United States has been claiming that Iran can import nuclear fuel for its reactors. However, the Leader said the United States is not trustworthy, saying the U.S. refused to sell 20-percent enriched uranium to Iran to power its medical reactor in the 2000s.
âIn the 2000s, we experienced firsthand how unreliable the U.S. was when it came to supplying 20% enriched fuel,â Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out, indirectly referring to Iran‘s need to nuclear fuel to power its Tehran medical reactor.
He said, âThe core demand of the U.S. is that Iran should not have a nuclear industry and should remain dependent on them. Our response to Americaâs nonsense is clear: they canât do a damn thing about it.â