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Iran, Russia to work on nuclear plant in 2014

TEHRAN, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Ali Akbar Salehi, director of Iran's nuclear organization, said there are plans under way to build a nuclear power plant in Iran with the help of the Russians.

Russia supplies fuel for the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, which went into service last year. Salehi, director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said construction could start on a second plant next year.

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"We hope to see the construction of the country's second nuclear power station start at the beginning of the [Iranian calendar year, March 21] by the Russians," he was quoted as saying Tuesday by the semiofficial Fars News Agency.

Salehi said the plant could produce as much as 4,000 megawatts of electricity. If built, a new plant could be situated on one of Iran's coasts. Bushehr is along the Persian Gulf coast.

Iran says it has the right to a peaceful nuclear program. Earlier this year, the International Atomic Energy Agency said, however, there may be a military dimension to certain parts of Iran's nuclear program.

Iran and the IAEA issued a joint statement Monday saying both sides were committed to resolving "all present and past issues" related to Iran's nuclear program.

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"The Islamic republic of Iran has always tried to solve its problems with the [IAEA]," Salehi said.

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