Iran is pressing ahead with an ambitious expansion of its nuclear power program, with officials confirming the start of multiple new construction projects in partnership with Russia’s state-owned Rosatom.
Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), said on Monday the country plans to soon announce the locations of eight new nuclear units under a recently signed contract with Moscow.
Eslami said Iran is now in the third year of a national plan to reach 20 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity. He said that land has already been identified for potential new reactors in Golestan Province, located along Iran’s northern coast. Additionally, officials are considering resuming construction on a pre-1979 nuclear facility in Darkhovin, in Khuzestan Province on the southern coast.
The expansion builds on existing activity at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, Iran’s first operational reactor complex. According to Eslami, construction continues on the plant’s second and third units, alongside a new water desalination facility. He added that the new Russia-backed contract covers four additional units at Bushehr and four elsewhere in the country, whose locations will be announced at a later date.
Eslami described nuclear energy as a “life-giving” force that supports economic growth and technological advancement. He argued that developing nuclear technology helps Iran compete on equal footing with industrialized nations.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, who recently toured AEOI facilities, also reiterated that Iran’s nuclear activities remain peaceful. Furthermore, he emphasized the government’s goal is to improve public welfare and meet domestic energy demands, not to pursue weapons production.
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SMR offer flexible and scalable approach to power generation
However, tensions around Iran’s nuclear ambitions remain high. In June, the United States and Israel conducted strikes on facilities they claimed were linked to a nuclear weapons program, which Iran denied. Subsequently, in late September, the United Nations reimposed sanctions on Tehran, underscoring the ongoing international dispute over the country’s atomic development efforts.
Rosatom, based in Russia, operates as a state corporation and does not trade publicly.
In September, Rosatom and the AEOI signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on small modular reactor development in Iran. The agreement could mark a step toward diversifying the country’s energy portfolio, while also deepening ties between Tehran and Moscow.
Officials indicated that SMRs offer a more flexible and scalable approach to power generation. This would allow the country to expand capacity without relying solely on large, traditional reactors. Additionally, SMRs can integrate with other infrastructure projects, such as water desalination and regional grids. The collaboration with Russia’s Rosatom focuses on sharing technical expertise, safety protocols, and construction methods. Iranian authorities said these reactors could play a key role in meeting growing electricity demand.
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