Iran Says Building First 'Indigenous' Nuclear Plant

Russian technicians have been helping Iran build the Bushehr nuclear power plant (epa) May 19, 2007 -- An Iranian official says Iran has begun building a nuclear power plant using indigenous technology and know-how.

Iranian state television quoted Mohammad Saidi, deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, as saying the plant will have a capacity of 360 megawatts.

He did not say where the plant would be located, but said Iran will join the club of countries that can build nuclear plants in "the next 10 years."

Saidi added that Iran's first nuclear power station, which is being built by Russian experts at Bushehr, will be launched in March, 2008.

(AFP)

The Proliferation Threat

The Arak heavy-water plant in central Iran (Fars)

BENDING THE RULES. Henry Sokolski, executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, told an RFE/RL-Radio Free Asia briefing on January 9 that the West is hamstrung in dealing with Iran and North Korea because of the way it has interpreted the international nonproliferation regime to benefit friendly countries like India and Japan.