Iran considers building 20 more nuclear plants -

Aljazeera: According to a senior Iranian MP Tehran is considering building 20 new nuclear power stations in the coming years. Kazem Jalali, who heads the foreign affairs committee, said during a visit to Moscow that Iran's government would study a proposal backed by parliament. He further added that he hoped Russia and other countries would contribute. "A plan has been approved in parliament obliging the government to study the possibility of building 20 nuclear power stations ... Various countries, including Russia, can participate and we hope Russia will continue to cooperate with us on this question," Jalali said Friday. Russia is helping Iran build its first nuclear plant at Bushehr, a move opposed by Israel and the U.S. in fear the facility might be used to build nuclear weapons. Iran has continuously maintained that its nuclear technology is intended solely to produce energy. The $800 million plant is expected to open next year. A bilateral agreement with Russia in 2002 allowed for the building of up to five reactors in 10 years. Recently, the new president elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said he wants to continue the nuclear programme. Tehran has announced that it intends to resume the enrichment process, which it says it needs to make nuclear fuel. In Moscow, Mr Jalali told Russian officials Iran still intended to produce its own fuel.