Ali Akbar Salehi (right), the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said his country has now entered a new phase of nuclear development after the signing of the JCPOA. Photo: Wikipedia.

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said the Islamic Republic has entered a new phase in nuclear activity, Iran’s semi-independent Tasnim News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Ali Akbar Salehi highlighted the progress Tehran has made since the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

In this “new phase,” according to Salehi, Iran “will be able to witness an expansion in our [nuclear] activities and its acceleration, particularly in the field of constructing nuclear plants.”

Salehi also expressed his hope that the AEOI would be able to use future nuclear facilities to expand operations in “desalination of water for those living in southern Iranian provinces,” as well as, “health, industry, agriculture and construction of new [nuclear] plants.”

The JCPOA, agreed upon by the P5+1 and Iran in July, was officially adopted on October 18 and will be taking effect within the next two months.

As a result, Iran expects the termination of all sanctions imposed on its nuclear program, which it claims is exclusively for peaceful purposes.