Photo published by Iran`s Presidency shows President Masoud Pezeshkian (C) along with Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami (R) during a tour of AEOI facilities in Tehran on November 2, 2025.

Iran will open its first nuclear desalination plant next year amid efforts by the government to use a home-grown nuclear technology to improve people`s lives, and to support sustainable development in the country

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami said on Sunday that the desalination project will be launched alongside Iran`s only nuclear power plant in the southern city of Bushehr.

Eslami said that a first phase of the plant will come on line in the calendar year starting late March with a capacity of 70,000 cubic meters per day.

He made the announcement during a meeting between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and senior AEOI officials in Tehran.

"In planning nuclear power plants, we include the construction of desalination facilities to ensure reliable and efficient services for the local communities," said the official, who also holds the position of as a deputy president in the Iranian government.

Eslami said building nuclear desalination projects are in line with Iran`s efforts to create connections between the nuclear industry, which is often seen as a distant or overly technical field, with everyday life and real-world challenges of the people in Iran.

A nuclear desalination plant uses the heat or electricity generated by a nuclear reactor to power the process of removing salt and minerals from seawater or brackish water.

Iran has built several traditional desalination plants along the Persian Gulf coast in recent years as it increasingly relies on seawater to meet the needs of households, businesses, and industries..

The AEOI has also introduced numerous projects to support government plans for sustainable development in Iran, including using nuclear technology to address to address challenges in healthcare, food, and agriculture.