Russia to build second nuclear plant in Iran

Russia is set to sign an agreement with Iran to build the country's second nuclear power plant, outgoing Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said. "Iran held consultations with the Russian side and soon an agreement of mutual understanding will be signed for the construction of a new power plant," the Iranian Mehr news agency quoted Salehi saying Sunday. Salehi said Iran required nuclear power for electricity and medicine. On August 4 during a visit to Iran, Russian parliament speaker Sergei Naryshkin said the two countries planned to expand cooperation on the civilian nuclear power front, RIA Novosti reported Monday. Salehi said earlier this year that Moscow was Tehran's preferred partner to build a second nuclear plant, the Russian news agency said.