TEHRAN – Iran is acquiring the technology to build atomic power plants despite Western sanctions, the semi-official Fars news agency reported quoting the country’s nuclear chief on Friday.

Despite US attempts to stop its progress, the construction of the plant continued with the help of Iranian youths and scientists, President of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami said at the Darkhovin nuclear power plant, currently under construction in the southwestern province of Khuzestan.

The entire world knew that Iran was acquiring the technology of constructing nuclear power plants, Eslami said, stressing that the country did not pay attention to the "enemies' sanctions and pressures" and would continue working towards the achievement of its objectives.

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“Today, we are a major player in the science in the world and the enemies cannot afford to see this great success.”

Iran signed a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers in July 2015, accepting restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions.

However, the United States withdrew from the agreement in May 2018 and reinstated sanctions, prompting Iran to scale back some of its nuclear commitments.

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Efforts to revive the JCPOA commenced in April 2021 in Vienna, Austria. Despite multiple rounds of negotiations, no substantial progress has been reported since the last talks in August 2022.

Iran has repeatedly said that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful, mainly aimed at generating electricity and producing radiopharmaceuticals.