MOSCOW - Russia could bid for contracts to build two more nuclear power plants in Iran, an official from the Russian company already building the Islamic republic's first such facility was quoted as saying Tuesday.
"We are ready to examine conditions for taking part in tenders that Iran might offer," Vladimir Pavlov, who heads Atomstroiexport's business in Iran, was quoted as saying by ITAR-TASS news agency. "We have all the technical capability."
Iran's atomic energy chief has said that Iran will soon bid for tenders on two plants.
Atomstroiexport, a state-run company, is in the latter stages of building a nuclear power plant at Bushehr, the first in Iran.
Iran says it needs to enrich uranium to make fuel for its civilian nuclear programme, but Western powers, led by the United States, accuse the country of hiding a secret military programme.
The International Atomic Energy Agency reported Friday that Iran had ignored a UN order to halt uranium enrichment, which makes reactor fuel but can also be extended to make the core of an atom bomb.
Russia has turned down US demands for an end to all foreign cooperation with Iran's nuclear programme.
05/02/2006 16:22 GMT