JERUSALEM (JTA) — Iran announced it will inaugurate its first nuclear power plant.
Iran’s semi-official IRNA news agency reported Sunday that the plant will start its pilot phase Feb. 25 with a ceremony attended by the head of Russia’s state nuclear company.
The Bushehr power plant has been built with the assistance of Russia under a $1 billion contract. Russia trained 700 Iranian engineers to operate the plant, according to the Associated Press. Iran and Russia both insist the plant is for civilian use only.
The United States, Israel and European countries believe Iran could convert the plant in order to produce nuclear weapons.
