BUSHEHR, Iran. Aug 23 (Interfax) - Russia will concentrate on completing the Bushehr nuclear power plant project in Iran before it could theoretically consider other civilian nuclear projects in that country, Russian state nuclear energy corporation chief Sergei Kiriyenko said.
"We are not discussing new nuclear power projects with Iran so far. We should complete the Bushehr NPP construction first," Kiriyenko said at a press conference in Bushehr dealing with the start of loading nuclear fuel into the plant's reactor on Saturday.
"We should complete the physical launch procedure and start the plant's commercial operations by the end of the year," Kiriyenko said.
Iranian Vice President for Atomic Energy Ali Akbar Salehi said Tehran was not in a hurry with new nuclear projects.
"Everything depends on decisions to be made by the president and the government. Such decisions could possibly be made next year," Salehi said.