Russian Foreign Minister: Bishehr NPP to be launched soon

PanARMENIAN.Net - “As we know the Bushehr plant is expected to be launched in the short run. I cannot specify the exact date,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said. “I can only say Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin assessed the situation in such a way: we’d like to listen to Iran’s wishes when it is convenient to launch the facility."

“Technologically all proceeds according to plan. There is no failure at the talks,” he added.

The sides were wrapping up discussions on when to open the plant, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Mehdi Akhundzadeh said on Wednesday.

“Cooperation on the Bushehr project is coming to its end. Russian officials are taking good steps in this direction,” the official said, according to ITAR-Tass.

Construction began on the Bushehr plant in 1975 by several German companies. However, work halted when the United States imposed an embargo on hi-tech supplies to Iran after the 1979 revolution. Russia signed a contract with Iran to complete the construction in 1998.

Completion of the plant's construction has been postponed several times due to technical and financial challenges and pressure from the United States.