Iran will build two more nuclear power plants

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization says his country is planning to build at least two new nuclear power plants next to an existing facility that became operational with Russia’s help last year.

Fereydoon Abbasi Davani was quoted on state TV as saying Sunday that Iran is in the very early stages of planning the new 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plants and that it may begin construction within a year or two.

Iran has repeatedly said in recent years that it is planning to build more nuclear power plants but nothing has been offered to show that any work is under way.

Iran’s first power plant went into operation last May at the southern coastal city of Bushehr.

Western powers suspect Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program, a charge Iran denies.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.