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Russia on Tuesday signed an agreement with Iran for helping the latter build two new nuclear reactors in the Islamic republic, local media reports said.
The two new nuclear reactors will be built in a nuclear power plant based in Iran's Bushehr region, which houses the country's existing 1,000 megawatt reactor that was completed by Russia's Rosatom corporation and started operation last year.
According to the protocol signed by Russian and Iranian representatives here Tuesday, the two countries agreed to eventually expand the number of reactors using Russian technology to eight in Iran, including four at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in southern Iran.
Nuclear fuel for the eight energy reactors will be provided by Russia and the used fuel rods will be returned to Russia, RIA Novosti news agency reported.
Rosatom corporation stressed in a statement Tuesday that the project will be under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Iran's first nuclear power plant near the city of Bushehr was first constructed in 1975 by several German companies. However, the work was 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, while the remaining construction was postponed several times due to mounting technical and financial challenges and pressure from Washington. Enditem
