Tehran, Moscow discuss expansion of nuclear cooperation

Iranian and Russian officials in a meeting in Moscow conferred on ways to further broaden the two countries' relations and cooperation in the field of civilian nuclear technology.
Deputy Head and Spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi and Deputy Head of Russia's Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation Nicolai Spassky on Wednesday held consultations on peaceful nuclear cooperation.
The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest in the field of nuclear energy.
Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Mehdi Sanayee was also present in the meeting.
The two sides exchanged views on issues related to implementation of the agreements signed last November in the field of nuclear energy.
Construction of two new nuclear power plants in Bushehr was on the agenda of negotiations.
Earlier this month, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced that the country had started building two new nuclear power plants in the Southern province of Bushehr to increase nuclear-generated power output of the country.
"Construction of two new power plants will increase the capacity of Bushehr province's power generation to 2,000 megawatts," President Rouhani said in a meeting with investors and economic activists in Bushehr province.
President Rouhani underlined during a visit to the Bushehr nuclear power plant that Iran is pursuing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and said, "The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is an example showing that Iran is only looking for a civilian use of the nuclear energy and for power generation."
In March, Russia's Rosatom and the AEOI reached an agreement to construct at least two more nuclear power plants in Bushehr.
In October, Head of the AEOI Ali Akbar Salehi underlined the financial and environmental benefits of Bushehr nuclear power plant for the country, saying that the power plant will save Iran $1bln worth of fossil fuel each year.
"About 7bln kw/h electricity is being generated annually at Bushehr nuclear power plant which saves $1bln worth of fossil fuel which will be followed by the same level of decrease in air pollution," Salehi said, addressing a meeting with Iranian legislators at the parliament's Energy Commission.