Russia, Iran Reach Preliminary Deal On New Nuclear Reactors

Iran and representatives from Russia's state nuclear power company, Rosatom, have reached preliminary agreement on the construction of at least two more nuclear reactors.

A spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Behruz Kamalvandi, said on March 12 that the two sides had reached tentative agreement.

The two reactors would be built at Bushehr, where Iran's sole nuclear power plant, also built by Rosatom, is located.

Kamalvandi said AEOI chief Ali Akbar Salehi and Rosatom chief Sergei Kiriyenko would sign the deal once all details were ironed out.

Rosatom Deputy Director-General Nikolai Spassky arrived in Tehran on March 11 for discussions on the new units, according to the company's website.

The United States has raised "serious concern" that the deal could undermine Western sanctions on Iran over its disputed nuclear program.

Based on reporting by IRNA, RFE/RL, and ITAR-TASS