Russia Starts Construction on New Iranian Nuke Plant

The reactor building at the Russian-built Bushehr nuclear power plant / Getty Images

 

Russia to build two new nuke plants for Iran

A Russian atomic energy corporation announced late Monday that it has formally begun construction on a new $10 billion nuclear plant in Iran amid global efforts by the Trump administration to crack down on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear endeavors.

The deal, which has been in the works since the Obama administration negotiated the landmark nuclear agreement with Iran, is aimed at further cementing ties between Moscow and Tehran and is being handled by Russia’s state Rosatom corporation.

Iran to assume control of Bushehr nuclear plant

The Islamic Republic’s only power-producing facility was operated by Russians; handover ceremony scheduled for Monday

Iran is set to assume control of its Bushehr civilian nuclear reactor on Monday. The plant, built by Russia, has been operated by Russian technicians in an agreement sanctioned by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

“The 1,000-megawatt Bushehr nuclear power station will be handed over to Iran” Monday, Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, told the official IRNA news agency, according to AFP’s translation. “But for another two years, it will be under Russian guarantee and a number of Russian experts will remain in place to give advice and technical assistance.”