Tehran , Iran ( CNN ) -- The head of Iran 's nuclear energy agency announced Saturday that the country had launched a `` serious '' nuclear fusion research program , according to state-run Press TV . Ali-Akbar Salehi , the chief of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran ( AEOI ) , said as many as 50 scientists were participating in the research to break into alternative energy , Press TV said . The process of nuclear fusion consists of forcing hydrogen nuclei to collide at high speed and fuse together , which releases energy , according to the International Atomic Energy Agency 's ( IAEA ) website . The goal is to eventually develop fusion plants to generate electricity , the IAEA said , but research worldwide is still in the early stages . The agency called nuclear fusion a `` long term , sustainable , economic and safe energy source . '' Salehi acknowledged the project will take time . `` It takes 20 to 30 years before this process can be commercialized but we have to use all the capacity in the country to provide the necessary speed for fusion research , '' Salehi said , according to Press TV . Iran is under fire for other aspects of its nuclear program , which Tehran claims is for peaceful purposes . However , the United States and other Western nations fear Iran is attempting to develop a nuclear weapon . The United Nations has issued four rounds of sanctions against the country for not being more transparent about the goals and status of its nuclear program . Earlier this month , President Barack Obama signed into law new U.S. sanctions against Tehran that he called another step in demonstrating that `` the United States and the international community are determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons . ''
A nuclear fusion research program was launched recently in Iran . Scientists are exploring using nuclear fusion for alternative fuels . Iran is the subject of international sanctions for other aspects of its nuclear program .