Iran Building Two New Nuclear Reactors, World Powers Yawn

In astounding news, Iran announced it is constructing two more nuclear reactors, while world powers shrug their shoulders. 

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced on Tuesday that Iran has started building two new nuclear power plants in the Southern province of Bushehr to increase the nuclear-generated power output of the country, the Iranian Fars news agency reports.

“Construction of two new power plants will increase the capacity of Bushehr province’s power generation to 2,000 megawatts,” Fars Quotes President Rouhani as saying during a meeting with investors and economic activists in Bushehr province.

Earlier on, President Rouhani claimed during a visit to the Bushehr nuclear power plant that Iran is pursuing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and said, “The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is an example showing that Iran is only looking for a civilian use of the nuclear energy and for power generation.”

The new plants are being constructed in collaboration with Russia’s Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation.

Project manager Mahmoud Jafari blasted what he termed as “western animosities” towards Iran’s civilian nuclear activities. “Although the Bushehr nuclear power plant was exempt from the sanctions, the westerners prevented the supply of the equipment (needed by the power generation facility) to Iran.”

Negotiations or Belligerence?

The Iranian President’s announcement came just a day before US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif met in Geneva to discuss Iran’s nuclear aspirations.

A State Department spokesman said, “We are aware of the announcement and are reviewing the details.” However, “in general, the construction of light water nuclear reactors is not prohibited by U.N. Security Council resolutions…” the official said.

The P5+1 powers are engaged in negotiations with Iran regarding their nuclear program, which the West fears will ultimately be used to develop nuclear weapons. Israel, in particular, fears Iran’s nuclear program, as Iran has openly threatened to wipe Israel of the map.

The Washington Free Beacon reports that news of the two new nuclear plants come on the heels of reports that Iran has been operating advanced missile sites in Syria and also building a secret nuclear plant there.