Russia to meet Iranian medical needs

Iran is to receive steady supplies of medical isotopes from Russia after a test batch was shown to meet requirements. Rosatom chief Sergei Kiriyenko received the test results during a recent visit to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, led by the country's Vice President Fereydoon Abbasi. A forthcoming long term contract will see Russia supply 100 curies of molybdenum-99, and 15 curies of iodine-131 each week. Iran's supplies have historically come from the Tehran Research Reactor, but this in need of fresh nuclear fuel enriched to 19.75% uranium-235 and an international initiative to supply this from Iranian stocks has stalled. While the unit remains in operation, its current production capacity and any impact on nuclear medicine within Iran are unknown.