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Iran, Afghanistan Ink Pact to Boost Nuke Production

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani

Iranian officials and their counterparts in Afghanistan announced on Tuesday that the countries would be expanding their joint nuclear work, including ventures in atomic energy, according to the Tehran’s state-controlled press.

Following a meeting between officials in Iran’s Atomic Energy Agency and Afghanistan's Atomic Energy High Commission, the two countries finalized a memorandum of understanding that commits each nation to increase nuclear coordination.

"The Afghan delegation was visiting Iran to get acquainted with the country’s achievements in nuclear industry, and to expand bilateral nuclear cooperation for peaceful purposes," Iran's Fars News Agency reported. "The visit was made in coordination with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEI)."

"The two sides will cooperate in various nuclear-related fields, especially regarding human resources capacity building, and the application of atomic energy in healthcare and agriculture," according the new agreement, which emphasized the joint endeavors are for "peaceful" purposes, not weapons.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan continues to import Iranian crude oil despite new sanctions on such activity issued by the Trump administration.