Iran has begun building a second nuclear power plant with Russian help, Iranian and Russian media are reporting.
The project, known as Busherh-2, was officially launched on September 10 in the southern port city of Bushehr.
The project will cost around $10 billion and produce 1,057 megawatts of electricity. The project is expected to be completed in 10 years.
It’s Iran’s first nuclear power project since the country reached a landmark nuclear deal with world powers in July 2015.
It will be built by Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear power company.
Iran's sole operational nuclear reactor -- also built with Russian assistance in Bushehr -- produces 1,000 megawatts. It went online in 2011, and the two countries have agreed to cooperate on future projects.
The Bushehr plant is not considered a proliferation risk because Russia supplies the fuel for the reactor and takes away spent fuel that could otherwise be used to make weapons-grade plutonium.
Under the nuclear deal reached with world powers in July 2015, Iran has agreed to curb its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.
Tehran has rejected Western allegations that it is seeking nuclear weapons, insisting its nuclear program is for entirely civilian purposes.
