TEHRAN (TASS) — The construction of the second stage of the Bushehr nuclear power plant jointly with Russia has started in Iran, IRIB broadcaster has reported.

The ceremony is attended by Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi.

In November 2014 Iran and Russia signed an agreement to build two new nuclear reactors at the Bushehr site, with an option of six more at other sites later.

Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant

(© Rosatom press-service / TASS)

Construction of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant was started in 1975 by German companies, but the work was stopped in 1979 after the Islamic revolution of Iran. The site was repeatedly bombed during the Iran–Iraq war. Later, a contract for finishing the plant was signed between Iran and the Russian Ministry for Atomic Energy in 1995, with Russia’s Atomstroyexport named as the main contractor. The plant started adding electricity to the national grid on 3 September 2011, and was officially opened in a ceremony on 12 September 2011, attended by Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko and head of the Rosatom Sergey Kiriyenko.