Iran says its priority is to explore new uranium deposits inside the country

Iran searching for new domestic uranium deposits

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s nuclear chief says the priority after the September startup of Bushehr nuclear power plant wil be to search for new uranium deposits inside the country.

Vice President Ali Akbar Salehi told the official IRNA news agency Wednesday that only one-third of the country has been explored for uranium deposits.

Iran has two known uranium deposits, one in at Saghand, central Iran, and the other near the southern port city of Bandar Abbas where a mill is reportedly converting raw uranium into uranium ore concentrate known as yellowcake.

Iran in the past has rejected media reports that it was running out of raw uranium or seeking to buy uranium concentrate from abroad to sustain its ambitious nuclear program.