Iran MP: Nuclear plant’s launch delayed again

AP: An Iranian lawmaker says the country’s first nuclear power plant in southern port of Bushehr faces more delays because of money demands from Russia.

The Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — An Iranian lawmaker says the country’s first nuclear power plant in southern port of Bushehr faces more delays because of money demands from Russia.

The reformist Aftab daily on Monday quotes Asgar Jalalian, a member of the parliament’s special committee on the plant, as saying that Iran has already paid at least twice the expected costs for the 1,000 megawatt plant. Russia’s Rosatom is building the facility.

Jalialian says the committee doubts the plant will come on line by August, as promised.

Moscow and Tehran signed a US$1 billion contract to start building Bushehr in 1995. Its 1999 completion date has been repeatedly pushed back.

The United States and others believe Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies.