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 The comments cast doubt on previous assessments from some Western
analysts who said the country had a low supply and would sooner or
later would need to import uranium, the raw material needed for its
nuclear program.
Any indication Iran could become more self-sufficient will be
closely watched by world powers, which reached a landmark deal with
Tehran in July over its program. They had feared the nuclear
activities were aimed at acquiring the capability to produce atomic
weapons - something denied by Tehran.
"I cannot announce (the level of) Iran's uranium mine reserves. The
important thing is that before aerial prospecting for uranium ores
we were not too optimistic, but the new discoveries have made us
confident about our reserves," Iranian nuclear chief Ali Akbar
Salehi was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA.
Salehi said uranium exploration had covered almost two-thirds of
Iran and would be complete in the next four years.
Uranium can be used for civilian power production and scientific
purposes, but is also a key ingredient in nuclear weapons.
The July deal between Iran and world powers will lift international
sanctions on Iran in exchange for at least a decade of curbs on the
country's nuclear activity.
After decades of efforts, Iran - which has consistently said its
program is for peaceful purposes - has achieved a full nuclear fuel
cycle, ranging from the extraction of uranium ore to enrichment and
production of fuel rods for nuclear reactors.
Sanctions on companies taking part in Iran's uranium mining industry
will be lifted when the agreement is implemented.
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Salehi said uranium extraction was set to begin at a new mine in the
central province of Yazd, according to IRNA.
Some Western analysts have previously said that Iran was close to
exhausting its supply of yellowcake - or raw uranium - and that
mining it domestically was not cost-efficient.
A report published in 2013 by U.S. think-tanks Carnegie Endowment
and the Federation of American Scientists said the scarcity and low
quality of Iran's uranium resources compelled it "to rely on
external sources of natural and processed uranium".
It added: "Despite the Iranian leadership's assertions to the
contrary, Iran's estimated uranium endowments are nowhere near
sufficient to supply its planned nuclear program."
Iran has repeatedly denied overseas media reports that it has tried
to import uranium from countries like Kazakhstan and Zimbabwe.
(Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; Editing by Noah Browning and
Pravin Char)
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