In Russia, Ahmadinejad Says Iran Wants More Nuclear Plants

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad (left) with Russian President Vladimir Putin (second from left) at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 2

Visiting Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad says his country is ready to build new nuclear power plants with the aid of Russia.

The outgoing Iranian president told Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow on July 2 that "we can expand our cooperation and build new nuclear power plants."

Ahmadinejad added that the two countries should increase their level of economic cooperation to the maximum possible level "beginning from the oil and gas sector to the sphere of science and technologies." He added that "there are no obstacles for the development of relations from the Iranian side."

Putin thanked Ahmadinejad for participating in the Gas Exporting Countries' Forum in Moscow and cited "common interests," including that their countries "harbor the world's biggest natural gas reserves."

The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization said in late June that Tehran plans to build three more power-generating units at the Bushehr nuclear power plant and hopes to broaden cooperation with the Russian state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom.

He also said that Iran is selecting sites for building more nuclear power plants.

Ahmadinejad's term ends with the inauguration next month of successor Hassan Rohani.

Based on reporting by ITAR-TASS and Interfax