World Bulletin/News Desk

An exhibition of Iran's achievements in laser technology opened Thursday in Tehran, but the international community showed more interest in the role lasers play in the country's enrichment of nuclear materials.

"More than 40 types of lasers, from milliwatts to kilowatts in power are being displayed at the exhibition," said Seyed Hasan Nabavi, director of the Iranian National Center of Laser Science and Technology Research.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Western officials are concerned about whether the country is developing advanced lasers suitable for uranium enrichment.

And even Mohammad-Hassan Aboutorabi Fard, the first deputy speaker of the Iranian parliament, said the lasers could have military uses.

During a visit to the exhibition, Aboutorabi Fard said developments in laser technolgy would ultimately improve Iran's defensive power, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

The most recent round of negotiations on Iran's controversial nuclear program failed to meet its November 2014 deadline for achieving a permanent settlement. However, Tehran and the so-called P5+1 -- the U.S., the U.K., France, China and Russia plus Germany -- agreed to extend the talks until July, voicing optimism that remaining disputes can be resolved.

World powers suspect Iran is seeking to acquire nuclear weapons and have imposed economic sanctions since 2006. Iran says its uranium enrichment program is for peaceful purposes only.

The laser exhibition was inaugurated by Aboutorabi Fard and Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.

The three day exhibition, which is open to the public, will run through Sunday.