Iran said Tuesday that it is pleased with the overall rate of construction at its Bushehr nuclear power plant, RIA Novosti reported (see GSN, Oct. 15).
(Oct. 16) -
Iran's nuclear power reactor at Bushehr could begin operations early next year (Behrouz Mehri/Getty Images).
The $1 billion site was initially expected to open in late 2006, but its completion has been delayed repeatedly. The facility would be subject to international inspections when Russia finishes construction under a 1995 agreement.
"We are satisfied in general with the progress in the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, especially after Russia delivered nuclear fuel to the facility," said Ahmad Fayazbakhsh, deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said earlier this month that the “completion and launch of the Bushehr nuclear power plant have been scheduled for the first half of 2009” (RIA Novosti I, Oct. 14).
Meanwhile, Iran’s air force plans to launch a major combat exercise today that would follow several other high-profile drills this year. Israel and the United States have not ruled out attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, and Tehran has promised to respond to such a strike.
The drills planned in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province are intended to “demonstrate the might and combat readiness of Iran's air force," Iranian state media said yesterday.
Every type of Iranian fighter jet is expected to participate, including U.S.-built F-4, F-5, F-7 and F-14 jets, indigenously assembled Saegheh fighters and Boeing 707 fuel tankers that would provide fuel for the aircraft during flight (RIA Novosti II, Oct. 15).
Elsewhere, Australia yesterday said it would not pursue an international court case against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for encouraging aggression against Israel, the Associated Press reported. Ahmadinejad has called for eliminating Israel and has made anti-Semitic remarks, Canberra charged in May as it pondered whether to take a case to court.
"We determined to avoid pursuing a case which would give further profile to these obscene remarks," Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told lawmakers in the country. "Most importantly, the Australian government would not want such legal action to complicate or distract from the international community's efforts to address the serious concerns about Iran's nuclear program” (Rod McGuirk, Associated Press/Google News, Oct. 15).