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Russia, Iran Discuss New Nuclear Plant Project

Iran and Russia are discussing plans to build a new nuclear power plant at Bushehr, with construction set to begin next year, Iranian media reports said Sunday, citing the country's nuclear chief.

Ali Akbar Salehi told state broadcaster IRIB that Iran was negotiating a deal with Russia to produce 4,000 megawatts of electricity, and Moscow has "expressed its readiness to build."

"With the progress made in the Geneva talks, next year we will see the start of construction on another nuclear power plant in Bushehr," AFP quoted Salehi as saying.

The Bushehr nuclear power plant — Iran's only such facility — came into service September 2011 and began operating at full capacity a year after. Moscow handed over operational control of the Russian-made plant to Iran in September this year.

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