TEHRAN – Iran is moving forward with plans to construct eight nuclear power plants in collaboration with Russia, aiming to produce 20,000 megawatts of clean nuclear electricity, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said here Sunday.
Muhammad Eslami, vice president and chief of Iran’s nuclear agency, said that the first unit of the Bushehr nuclear power plant was commissioned in 2013 after a long and complex process. Following that milestone, a new agreement between the Iranian and Russian governments outlines the construction of four nuclear units in Bushehr and another four units in other locations, to be announced by the Iranian government.
“Based on our planning, nuclear power plants will be constructed in different parts of the country so that sustainable and clean nuclear energy can supply the electricity needs of the nation,” Eslami said.
He noted that the construction of a nuclear power plant in Darkhovin, in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province, began before the 1979 Islamic Revolution and has recently resumed as a fully domestically developed project. 
Eslami also highlighted efforts to establish a nuclear power plant on the northern coast of the country in Golestan province, saying that land has been allocated and construction work has begun.
Eslami said that once operational, the new nuclear power plants across the country could contribute up to 20,000 megawatts of electricity. 
He also underscored the continuity of Bushehr’s second and third units, which were developed even during the short-lived Iran-Iraq War, noting that the project is proceeding steadily.
Since 2021, he added, Iran has accelerated the commercialization of nuclear technology projects to create mechanisms that allow citizens to engage more directly with nuclear energy and its applications.
Eslami emphasized that the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran is implementing its strategic nuclear industry plan through 2040. 
“We are now in the third year of executing this roadmap, aiming to achieve the production of 20,000 megawatts of nuclear electricity,” he said. He noted that several feasibility studies have been conducted to achieve this target, a goal endorsed by Iran’s Supreme Leader in 2007.
The head of Iran’s nuclear agency described the 20,000-megawatt initiative as economically viable, with financial returns embedded within the project itself. “If this project is well-managed, investors will welcome it, and it can be successfully implemented,” Eslami said.
Eslami also stressed the importance of providing public services alongside nuclear power expansion. As part of the projects, desalination plants are being constructed to supply potable water to local communities. 
He highlighted the Bushehr desalination project, which is expected to reach a first-phase capacity of 70,000 cubic meters per day next year.
In addition to energy production, Eslami highlighted Iran’s efforts in nuclear applications for health, food security, industry, and the environment. 
He pointed to the importance of emerging technologies, including quantum research, laser development, and nuclear fusion, which he described as “fields of immense potential.” 
He warned that lagging in these areas could expose the country to challenges and external interference, similar to the scrutiny faced by the nuclear sector.
“We have resolved to pursue these fields more seriously and rapidly,” he said, emphasizing plans to train university professors and attract students in quantum and fusion disciplines, which he described as “future-building” fields that will meet current and future national needs.
Eslami said the government’s strategy aims to ensure that Iran not only achieves energy self-sufficiency but also maintains technological leadership in critical and advanced scientific domains.
He emphasized the importance of continuity, investment, and education to ensure that Iran’s nuclear sector meets both immediate energy needs and long-term scientific and industrial goals.