Nuclear chief: Tehran, Moscow to ink new nuclear plant construction deal
The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said on Monday that Tehran and Moscow will sign agreements on the construction of new nuclear power plants in Iran in the coming days. Mohammad Eslami, who arrived in Russia to participate in the events of the World Atomic Week in Moscow, told IRNA that the contract between the two countries envisages the construction of eight nuclear power plants by Russia, four of which are in the southern city of Bushehr, the home to the nuclear power plant.
The Iranian nuclear chief noted that the negotiations and necessary studies for the implementation of the second part of the contract have been conducted and the location for the construction of the power plants has been specified, prepared, and equipped. After the agreement is concluded by the end of the week, the operational phase for designing, engineering, and further actions will automatically begin, Eslami added.
Iran-IAEA cooperation
In response to a question about the prospect of cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Eslami said Tehran has always emphasized that the E3 group of Britain, France and Germany should not further damage the reputation of the United Nations and international organizations.
The European troika should allow world bodies to fulfill their duties in a just and professional manner within the framework of regulations, he added.
He warned that as long as these countries continue their behavior, peace will not be established in the world since their performance runs counter to laws and regulations. He said the UN nuclear agency’s refusal to condemn the US-Israeli attacks in June on three Iranian nuclear facilities, which were under the IAEA inspection, indicates that a "destructive influence runs deep in the Agency." Eslami reiterated Iran’s compliance with the IAEA's Safeguards agreement and said the country would continue its peaceful nuclear activities.