More Stories
Iran and Russia will sign an agreement this week for the construction of eight nuclear power plants, Iranian atomic energy chief Mohammad Eslami said on Monday during a visit to Moscow.
If finalized, the move would represent a strong signal of Russian support for the Islamic Republic's nuclear program amid growing military and diplomatic pressure.
Eslami, who is also a vice president in Iran, told state media that four of the reactors would be located at the Bushehr site in southern Iran, where the country’s only operating nuclear power plant is situated.
“The necessary negotiations and studies for the implementation of the second phase of this agreement have been completed, the land for the plants has been selected, prepared and equipped, and with the agreement that will be signed this week we will enter the operational stage,” Eslami said.
He added that site visits had already taken place and contractual talks concluded.
Eslami, who traveled to Moscow to meet officials and speak at Russia’s Nuclear Energy Week, said the project is part of Tehran’s long-term plan to expand nuclear capacity to 20 gigawatts by 2040.
Iran currently generates about 1 GW from its single Bushehr reactor, which was also built by Russia, and has faced recurring electricity shortages during peak demand.
Eslami's remarks comes as Britain, France and Germany (E3) push to reinstate UN sanctions, accusing Iran of violating a 2015 nuclear deal.
The 15-member UN Security Council on Friday rejected a draft resolution to permanently lift sanctions on Tehran. Russia, China and two others voted to do so.
Asked about the outlook for cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Eslami said: “We have always emphasized that these three European countries and the Zionist influence network should no longer damage the credibility of the United Nations and international organizations, and should allow these organizations to perform their duties fairly and professionally within the framework of regulations.”
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said on Monday the imminent snapback of UN sanctions increased pressure on Tehran, and that Iran must decide its path as the rest of the world would support the Jewish state if it did not change course.
“I hope the Iranians would understand now it is up to them to decide where they want to go,” he said.
“If they go back, they were there, then the rest of the world will stay next to Israel against them. I hope that they would change course and would understand they have to invest on the people of Iran and not building a nuclear threat."
Iran has so far failed to meet the conditions set by the European powers, Reuters reported on Monday citing two European diplomats.
"The ball is in Iran's camp. It is up to it to quickly take the concrete steps in the coming days to avert snapback. If not, then sanctions will be reimposed," one diplomat was quoted as saying.
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi will hold a meeting with his European counterparts on Tuesday, according to the two diplomats cited by Reuters.
Iran announced rare changes to its annual military parades, calling off at least two events over what it called security concerns and the need to prioritize military readiness.
The parades, traditionally held during Defense Week beginning on September 22, come this year in the aftermath of 12-day war with Israel in June that dealt the Islamic Republic one of its biggest ever military blows.
“Special programs this year will differ from previous years,” news outlet Tabnak cited Major General Soleiman Kamyabi, Deputy Chief of Human Resources for the General Staff of the Armed Forces, as saying.
Kamyabi said that honoring the martyrs of the Islamic Revolution, the eight-year Iran-Iraq War and “the 12-day imposed war” remains central to the commemorations.
Kurdistan province was the first to announce the cancellation of its parade. “No military parade will be held in Kurdistan this year,” Tasnim News quoted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Brigadier General Jamshid Rezaei as saying.
Instead, the IRGC will hold ceremonies to honor veterans, whom Rezaei credited for providing Iran’s “current security and stability.”
In Hamedan province in Western Iran, the IRGC made the same announcement, citing “emerging threats” and a desire to avoid large gatherings.
“Due to emerging threats, we will refrain from large gatherings and focus on defense readiness,” Khabar Online quoted Hossein Zare Kamali, the IRGC commander in Hamedan, as saying.
The cancellations highlight Iran’s military jitters amid heightened regional tensions, as Israeli military and civilian leaders have repeatedly said their armed quarrel with Iran may not be over.
During the June conflict, Israeli strikes killed nuclear scientists along with hundreds of military personnel and civilians. Iranian counterattacks killed 32 Israelis.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday there is little time left for Iran to reach a deal with European powers to delay the return of UN sanctions.
Kallas said it is "hard to tell" when asked about the chances of a deal.
"I stand ready for all the talks and also diplomatic solution. It's clear that there has to be an agreement in the end that Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. That is a worry that all the countries also around Iran and wider space have," Kallas said.
"I'm really willing to explore the ways to find a diplomatic solution and it's true that the snapback has been triggered and we have limited time to come to a conclusion," she added.
