JERUSALEM – The Middle East Newsline has confirmed that Russia expects to win a contract for the construction of nuclear reactors in Iran. The Kremlin is leading efforts to win a project to construct up to five nuclear energy reactors in Iran.

These facilities would have the capacity to generate up to 1,000 megawatts of electricity each. “We are discussing these [new plants] with our Iranian partners,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. “We are practically discussing this now.” On June 10, Mr. Lavrov said the discussions would not be affected by sanctions on Iran approved by the United Nations Security Council on June 9. The minister did not say when Russia could sign a contract for additional Iranian nuclear reactors. Russia’s state-owned Atomstroyexport will complete its first nuclear energy reactor in Iran by September 2010.

The Atomstroyexport has completed virtually all of the tests for the 1,000-megawatt reactor in the Iranian port city of Bushehr.

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