An Iranian nuclear official says Russia will begin building two nuclear power reactors in Iran next week, under a deal signed last year between subsidiaries of the countries' atomic energy agencies.
Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Agency, did not elaborate on his comments to Iranian media. But he appeared to be referring to an extension of the Russian-built Bushehr nuclear power station.
A bilateral agreement signed last year calls for Russia to build nearly 10 new reactors in Iran.
The start of construction follows a historic deal between Iran and six world powers that is aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program, in exchange for lifting international sanctions on Iran's economy.
Earlier this month, the U.N. nuclear agency closed a long-running investigation of Iran and issued a report suggesting it pursued a program to devise a nuclear bomb up until 2003. But the report said there was no sign of bomb-related research and development after 2009.
