Iran 'in talks' with Russia over new nuclear sites

Iran is in talks with Russia to build new nuclear facilities, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday. "We are in talks with Russia on construction of new nuclear power stations," Ahmadinejad told the Russia Today TV channel. Iran may accept an offer from any other country willing to cooperate, he said. Ahmadinejad was speaking just two weeks after the Bushehr nuclear power station, Iran's first such plant, was connected to the national grid. The Russian-built facility began operating at a low level in May. Earlier this month, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was "increasingly concerned" that Iran may also be working on a nuclear warhead. IAEA chief Yukiya Amano pledged to publish new information to back up the statement. Iran maintains its nuclear plans are entirely peaceful.