With Iran’s nuclear power plant at Bushehr approaching a major milestone, Iranian officials say that they are looking to expand the programme with more such plants. To that end, Iran’s Foreign Ministry has announced that it will “cooperate with any company from any country capable of building such facilities to a high standard.” It specifically stated that US companies will be invited to participate in the bidding process.
Bushehr is being constructed by a Russian company, giving Russia an advantage in any future bids. However, given relations between Iran and the USA, invitations to bid are a surprise.
Iran has a growing energy problem, as power generation from its oil industry cuts into its ability to export. Iran has been expanding its enrichment programme, ostensibly to allow it to support a number of nuclear power plants with domestic fuel supplies. The USA has demanded that Iran ends its enrichment programme and buy all its nuclear fuel on the international market.