Russia has agreed to build several nuclear reactors in Iran, just two weeks before international talks on reducing the country's nuclear capabilities are set to conclude.
Officials in Moscow and Tehran agreed to the construction of two nuclear reactors in Bushehr, with scope for up to six more across the country after the first two are complete.
At the signing of the deal, Iran's nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi described it as "a turning point in the development of relations between our countries".
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear power company has said the reactors represent a "peaceful use" of atomic energy. It says the construction of the plants will be entirely supervised by the global watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to ensure that the nuclear non-proliferation agreements are met.
Russia, which currently holds roughly 40 per cent of the world’s uranium enrichment capacity, has also promised to remove the uranium fuel it supplies once the reactors have been built. This, it says, will ensure that they are not used in the manufacture of nuclear weapons, the New York Times reports.
However, the timing of the deal has "raised eyebrows" in the West. In two weeks, long running talks between Iran and six world powers – the US, the UK, France, Germany, China and Russia – are expected to reach their conclusion.
World leaders had been hoping that Iran would finally sign a deal to scale back its nuclear programme. In exchange, international sanctions against the nation were to be loosened.
The possibility that fuel rod components could be built in Iran has "set alarm bells ringing" across Europe and in Washington, according to the Financial Times. "Any bilateral deal that allows Iran to continue an indigenous enrichment programme could jeopardise the entire P5+1 talks".
The breakdown in relations between Russia and the West has raised concerns that the talks could be affected. Some analysts have suggested that Russia would not benefit from the lifting of sanctions against Iran, as the surge in Iranian oil would lower oil prices and worsen Russia's economic problems.
-
Political cartoons for October 18Cartoons Saturday's editorial cartoons include conversion therapy, Russ Vought, and more
-
President Trump: ‘waging war’ on ChicagoTalking Point Federal agents are carrying out ‘increasingly aggressive’ immigration raids – but have sanctuary cities like Chicago brought it on themselves?
-
Sudoku medium: October 18, 2025The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designationThe Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
