Iran’s Nuclear Plant Set for 2009 Launch

For those fearful of a nuclear Iran, an update: After years of delays, Iran plans to launch its first nuclear power plant in 2009. Russia, which has a $1 billion contract to build the Bushehr plant, has delivered nuclear fuel to the Gulf Coast site. The country’s official Islamic Republic News Agency today quoted a spokesman for the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization as saying: “The commissioning stage of Bushehr nuclear power station has begun and we are hopeful the power station will be commissioned in 2009 as per the agreement we have had with the Russian party…There is a good environment prevailing in our relations with the Russians and we are hoping they will honor their commitments.” Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is strictly for civilian use, though the Bush administration has warned that Tehran aims to acquire atomic weapons.