August 22, 2011 - 14:10 AMT
Russia to build new nuclear plants in Iran

Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Director Fereydoun Abbasi has said that Iran and Russia have held negotiations on the construction of new nuclear power plants, refuting the claims that Russia has decided to end its nuclear cooperation with Iran, Tehran Times reported.

“The Russians have held negotiations with us on building new nuclear power plants and have presented some proposals,” Abbasi said.

“If a nuclear agreement is to be made between Iran and Russia, it would be on the construction of new nuclear power stations in Iran and on the expansion of peaceful nuclear cooperation,” he said.

He went on to say that Iranian officials have informed the Russians about their views on the proposals, adding that the negotiations and the exchange of proposals will continue until a clear result is achieved.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Abbasi said that Iran is also keen to cooperate with other countries in the construction of nuclear plants on the condition that they can prove their capability to build nuclear plants that meet the highest safety standards.

They should also provide adequate guarantees that nuclear disasters, like the one that happened at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant, will not occur in Iran, he added.

On the launch of the Bushehr power plant, he said that Iran’s first nuclear power plant will be officially inaugurated in November.

The plant, which is located near the port of Bushehr on the coast of the Persian Gulf, will produce 1000 megawatts of electricity once it becomes fully operational.