Iraq's Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, has affirmed Iraq's intent to resume its nuclear activities for peaceful purposes, nearly 43 years after Israel destroyed the country's first nuclear reactor, which was built with French assistance.

Iraq had three nuclear reactors in the Tuwaitha region, south of Baghdad, which was the main nuclear research site in the country. In 1981, an Israeli airstrike destroyed one of these sites, while American aircraft demolished the other two during the Gulf War in 1991 following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

Speaking on Monday during a meeting with the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, who is currently visiting Baghdad, al-Sudani said, "Iraq was among the first countries that sought to join the Agency and comply with its treaties. We worked on building nuclear reactors for peaceful purposes, convinced that nuclear energy should be a source of prosperity and not for developing deadly weapons."

A statement from the Prime Minister's media office noted al-Sudani saying that "Iraq submitted its requirements for joining the Nuclear Safety Convention and the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management to the agency at the end of last year. We look forward to re-entering the field of peaceful nuclear application." Al-Sudani expressed Iraq's desire to reclaim its "natural" place on the international stage and to pursue peaceful activities in the field of atomic energy, adding that he anticipates the IAEA's assistance in formulating related development programs for nuclear applications.

Grossi extended an invitation to al-Sudani to attend the Nuclear Energy Summit to be held in Brussels in March, acknowledging Iraq's cooperation with the agency, according to the Iraqi statement. Grossi emphasized that "Iraq is a leading country in working with the agency," affirming a commitment to support "its peaceful program and projects, which include energy, soil salinity removal, disease treatment, and other peaceful areas."

Grossi also expressed his anticipation for the upcoming visit by the Iraqi delegation to the IAEA headquarters to develop a roadmap for Iraq's progress and infrastructure construction, as well as to acquire nuclear technology for peaceful fields.

Similarly, Iraq's Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Naeem al-Aboudi, confirmed on Monday that Iraq is moving toward the peaceful use of nuclear power in various health, industrial, and agricultural sectors, noting recent progress in program preparation. During a press conference with Grossi in Baghdad, he voiced pleasure at the IAEA Director-General's visit and mentioned advancements in nuclear medicine at a Baghdad cancer treatment center.

In a move to close the chapter on the past and Iraq's nuclear aspirations (referring to the destruction of its Osirak reactor in the 1980s), the Iraqi Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research pointed out that "in the 1960s, Iraq was ahead of regional countries in the field of peaceful nuclear energy, and we are now working diligently with the Iraqi government to reclaim our rightful place and activate nuclear energy in service of the Iraqi people." The minister highlighted ongoing support for the health sector and requested IAEA support for hospitals in terms of equipment and training personnel. He also mentioned the adverse policies before 2003, which cost Iraq dearly, including the complete destruction of the Iraqi nuclear program due to wars.

Closing his remarks, al-Aboudi mentioned that other Arab countries like Egypt, UAE, and Saudi Arabia are also heading towards nuclear power. The Iraqi minister revealed a collaboration with IAEA to set up small nuclear stations (SMRs) for peaceful purposes, with a current emphasis on the health sector and the utilization of nuclear power.

Grossi, on his part, stressed the pillars of cooperation with Iraq, including supporting the establishment of a peaceful nuclear program and turning the page on the past. The focus is on applying peaceful nuclear energy in sustainable health care, cancer treatment, and clean energy in Iraq.

The mention of "closing the chapter on the past with Iraq" refers to the 2003 US-led war on Iraq, initiated under the pretense of the Saddam Hussein regime possessing weapons of mass destruction. While no such weapons were found post the overthrow of Saddam in 2003, Israel had destroyed the Osirak nuclear reactor near Baghdad during the Iran-Iraq war. France, which had good relations with Iraq at the time, had assisted in its construction.

Despite the destruction of the reactor, Saddam's regime continued to develop chemical and biological weapons and long-range missiles in the 1980s, launching 39 of such missiles at Israel during the second Gulf War in 1991. After the fall of the previous regime in 2003, the tragedy of Osirak continued to haunt Iraqi nuclear scientists, many of whom were assassinated along with air force pilots who had bombed Iranian targets during the eight-year war (1980-1988).

As Iraq begins a new phase in nuclear energy, questions remain on how to alleviate international concerns around having a nuclear reactor (even for peaceful purposes) in a country where Iran-linked militias operate, some engaged in conflict with Americans, along with the presence of ISIS terrorist cells that could raise additional fears.