Iran Seeks To Expand Nuclear, Renewables Energy Partnership With Russia

Iran’s Economy Minister Ehsan Khandouzi said on Tuesday that the country is looking to expand its partnership with Russia in the energy sector, including projects involving nuclear power and renewables. 

This comes as the two countries aim to boost their economic ties to offset Western sanctions.

“The prospect of cooperation in the field of ‘new energy’ and renewable energy sources, as well as in the field of other types of energy, including peaceful nuclear energy, certainly causes great interest and motivation to expand economic relations with Russia,” Khandouzi told RIA Novosti.

Russia is currently building a second reactor at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, which is the largest joint project between the two nations. The first reactor unit at the plant was completed with Russian assistance and connected to Iran’s national power grid in 2011. A contract for the construction of a third reactor has also been signed.

Russia has been supplying nuclear fuel for Bushehr since 2007.

Amid Western sanctions imposed on both nations, Russia and Iran are rapidly expanding their energy and trade ties.