'Russia may build new N-plants in Iran'

21 August 2011 | 17:10 Code : 15636 Latest Headlines

PressTV--The head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says Russia has proposed cooperating with the Islamic Republic on building new nuclear power plants in the country.

Fereydoun Abbasi said that Iran and Russia have negotiated the suggestion proposed by Moscow.

“We also shared our views with the Russian side about constructing new nuclear plants in the country [and] this exchange of views and offers will continue until a result is reached,” IRNA quoted Abbasi as saying on Saturday.

The Iranian official pointed to the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran and said, “If there is going to be a new agreement between Iran and Russia on nuclear facilities, it will be about building new power plants in Iran and the expansion of peaceful nuclear cooperation between the two sides.”

“Any future agreement between Iran and Russia will be in a way that serves the interests of both sides,” he added.

Iran signed a deal with Russia in 1995, under which the Bushehr plant was originally scheduled to be completed in 1999, but the completion of the project was repeatedly delayed.

On Wednesday, Abbasi announced a plan for the official inauguration of Bushehr's nuclear power plant in mid-November or in December.

According to the AEOI, the first phase of the Bushehr plant is scheduled to go on stream by the end of the holy month of Ramadan (early September) with a 40 percent capacity.