WANA (Feb 21) – The CEO of the Russian state-owned company Rosatom announced that the company is in talks with Iran to construct another nuclear power plant in the country.

 

Speaking at the International Future Technologies Forum in Moscow, Alexey Likhachev stated, “We see an active stance from the Iranian government in moving forward. We are accelerating our efforts and engaging in extensive negotiations regarding the next site for nuclear energy development in Iran.”

 

He emphasized that “as you know, we can only proceed at the pace determined by our client—the contracting government.”

 

Likhachev also mentioned that a location for the new nuclear plant in Iran has been identified, but construction has yet to begin.

 

Regarding Iran’s debt to Russia for the Bushehr power plant project, he noted that the amount has been significantly reduced.

 

The Rosatom CEO highlighted Iran’s interest in cooperating not only on large-scale nuclear power plants but also on the development of small modular reactors.

 

Discussing Rosatom’s international activities, Likhachev stated that, despite sanctions, the company continues to collaborate with several European Union companies.

 

He added, “Rosatom will certainly consider cooperation with partners from ‘unfriendly’ countries if relations normalize.”

 

Previously, Likhachev had announced an agreement between Iran and Russia for collaboration on both large and small nuclear power plants.

 

On January 17, 2025, following talks between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, Likhachev said, “Today, our Iranian colleagues and partners expressed their desire to expand cooperation in the field of small nuclear power plants and establish new sites for large-scale facilities.”

 

According to Likhachev, negotiations for the construction of another large nuclear power plant in Iran will commence soon.

 

He also affirmed that, despite sanctions and external pressures, work on the second and third units of the Bushehr nuclear power plant is progressing.

 

Earlier, Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, noted in a press conference that Iran, in cooperation with Moscow, has completed the first unit of the Bushehr nuclear plant and is currently constructing the second and third units. He confirmed that negotiations are ongoing with Russia to build additional nuclear plants in Iran.

 

Jalali added that a 5,000-megawatt nuclear power capacity agreement, including large-scale plants and small modular reactors, was reached during Dr. Pezeshkian’s visit to Moscow.