Russia's nuclear chief: Iran wants more reactors

By AP Published: 2011-11-10T13:11:28+04:00

Russia's nuclear chief says Iran would like more Russian-built nuclear reactors following the launch of its first that began producing electricity in September.

Rosatom chief Sergei Kiriyenko told a Cabinet session chaired by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that Iran has signaled interest in more Russian-built reactors, in addition to its first built in the southern port of Bushehr.

Kiriyenko said in remarks carried by Russian news agencies that his agency was working on a relevant agreement.

Russin and Iranian officials have discussed building more reactors in the past, but the latest Kiriyenko statement comes amid Western calls for sanctions on Tehran over a U.N. nuclear watchdog report detailing suspected atomic weapons-related advances.

Russia has firmly rejected any new sanctions on Iran.