Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says his country’s first nuclear plant in the Iranian city of Bushehr will go into full operation by year’s end, Ria Novosti reports.
In a Sunday interview with the international television news channel RT, Ahmadinejad announced: “The Bushehr nuclear power plant is ready and the plant will be launched into full operation by the end of this year.” (RELATED: Ahmadinejad to Iran’s rulers: Keep coed colleges)
Iran has the support of a Russian contractor, Rosatom, which will finance the project. Ahmadinejad said he anticipates no delays with the launch of the plant.
Russia has received approval from the International Atomic Energy Agency to operate the plant when it opens. Russia will supply fuel and remove waste from the plant for the next two to three years before eventually handing over control of the plant to the Iranian government.
Many in the international community believe Iran is attempting to create a nuclear weapon. The United States and Israel have led a charge to impose sanctions on Iran to forestall their nuclear program.