Iran to build 8 nuclear plants with Russia's help; says programme not aimed at developing weapons

Iran announced on Sunday that it will construct eight new nuclear power plants with Russia's assistance, as part of the country's efforts to expand its clean and sustainable energy production, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) was quoted as saying by ANI.

Meanwhile, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated his country's commitment to a “peaceful nuclear programme,” assuring that the aim of the project is “not to develop weapons.”

Details of the nuclear power plants

The AEOI chief, Mohammad Eslami, confirmed the development on Sunday, stating that a new agreement has been concluded between Iran and Russia for the joint construction of the nuclear power plants in these areas:

— Bushehr: Four nuclear power plants will be built in this area.

— Coastlines: Four plants will be constructed on Iran's northern and southern coastlines, with the exact locations to be announced later by the government.

The plants will ensure supply of “stable and clean nuclear energy” and are expected to increase Iran's electricity generation to 20,000 megawatts of nuclear-generated electricity, the AEOI chief said.

Russian state media TASS quoted the AEOI press service, citing Mohammad Eslami as saying that construction of a nuclear power plant on the coast in Iran's northern province of Golestan has already begun.

Speaking of the country's commitment to a peaceful nuclear programme, Pezeshkian said, “Building a bomb is only a tiny, disproportionate, and inhumane part of this field, while the rest serves essential human needs,” ANI said in the news report.

The Iranian president also claimed that Western powers seek to deprive independent nations, including Iran, of accessing advanced technology to keep them dependent on assembly industries. He further linked hostility and assassinations targeting Iranian scientists to major powers' fear of Iran's scientific and technological independence.

Escalating tensions between the US and Iran

The nuclear expansion announcement follows hostilities targeting Iran's key nuclear facilities, including those at Natanz and Fordow, in June 2025. This sparked a 12-day-long war targeting nuclear and military sites, which saw the US also joining in with strikes on the Iranian enrichment facilities.

President Donald Trump recently announced he would order fresh attacks if Iran restarts its nuclear facilities.

Trump also claimed that the US possesses “more nuclear weapons than any other country,” adding that he had discussed de-nuclearisation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“We have enough nuclear weapons to blow up the world 150 times,” Trump was quoted as saying by ANI.