Iraq prepares to launch first nuclear training reactor with China

Iraq is ready to begin construction of its first nuclear training reactor after declaring three former nuclear facilities near Baghdad free of radioactive contamination. The project, developed in partnership with China, marks a significant step in Iraq's effort to revive peaceful nuclear research and education.

At a press conference on Sunday, Iraq's Minister of Higher Education and head of the Atomic Energy Commission, Naeem al-Aboudi, stated that comprehensive surveys and technical treatment had confirmed that three facilities within the Al-Tuwaitha nuclear complex, located southeast of the capital, no longer pose any radiological threat.

"The French LAMA laboratories, the Italian-built radioisotope production facility, and the Tamuz-2 research reactor have all been declared free of any radioactive residue," Aboudi told reporters, calling the clearance a "national and ethical responsibility" conducted in line with international safety standards.

Aboudi said Iraq is now fully prepared to sign a strategic agreement with the China Atomic Energy Authority to begin work on a sub-critical nuclear reactor, designed for academic training and peaceful atomic research. A Chinese delegation is expected in Baghdad within days to finalise the deal, with construction scheduled to begin within a month.

"This will be the foundation stone for a cutting-edge sub-critical system—potentially the first of its kind in the region," Aboudi said. "It will help train Iraqi students in nuclear physics and radiological sciences, and lay the groundwork for a new generation of specialists."

The initiative is part of Iraq's broader push to re-establish its nuclear scientific infrastructure, decades after its initial attempts to develop nuclear power were derailed.

Legacy of 'Operation Opera'

The announcement comes as Iraq continues efforts to seek international recognition and redress for past damage to its nuclear facilities. In 1981, Israeli warplanes bombed the Osirak (Tammuz) reactor—then under construction with French support—just south of Baghdad. The attack, known as "Operation Opera," destroyed the site and killed at least 11 Iraqis, including military personnel.

Though condemned by UN Security Council Resolution 487, which affirmed Iraq's right to compensation, no reparations were ever paid.

In 2019, Iraqi lawmakers introduced draft legislation calling on the government to formally demand compensation from Israel for the airstrike and its material and human toll.

In 2022, Iraq's National Security Adviser, Qasim al-Araji, confirmed that the government had begun reviewing legal options to press its claim under international law. Meetings were held with officials from the Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Commission to identify mechanisms for pursuing redress by United Nations (UN) resolutions and international treaties.

The IAEA in 2010 concluded that depleted uranium (DU) residues left behind in four southern Iraqi cities following the 2003 conflict do not pose a significant radiological hazard to the local population. The agency noted that estimated annual radiation doses were far below internationally accepted limits and posed a minimal health risk. However, it warned that inhalation hazards may arise from entering destroyed vehicles struck by DU munitions or handling fragments and recommended public access restrictions and proper waste management of DU remnants.

These efforts reflect Iraq's dual strategy: building a peaceful, modern nuclear research programme while also seeking justice for past violations of its sovereignty and scientific development.