Iranian FM Blasts Baseless Propaganda against Safety of Bushehr N. Power Plant

“The propaganda of certain countries on concerns about the safety of the power plant is baseless,” Salehi said in a meeting with Chairman of Kuwait-Iran Parliamentary Friendship Group Ahmad Abdulmohsen al-Malifi and other members of the group in Tehran on Sunday evening.

“Iran has considered and moved to obviate any concern about this issue (the safety of Bushehr nuclear power plant) by applying extraordinary safety and high technical standards in the power plant to safeguard the health and safety of the Iranian citizens living near the power plant,” he added.

Salehi also reminded that Bushehr, similar to all other nuclear facilities of the country, is resistant to strong quakes and is working under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

His remarks came after the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) called for international inspectors to be sent to Iran’s Bushehr plant over alleged concerns of possible radiation leaks after an earthquake hit the area.

An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale jolted the town of Kaki in Bushehr province in April, killing at least 39 people and injuring more than 850 others.

A few days later, the IAEA said the recent earthquake has not affected the country’s Bushehr nuclear power plant.

“Iran has informed (the IAEA’s Incident and Emergency Center) of the event, reporting that there has been no damage to the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and no radioactive release from the installation,” the IAEA said in a statement.

In similar remarks earlier, a spokesman for Russia’s Atomstroyexport, a Rosatom subsidiary that completed the construction of the Bushehr power plant, confirmed that the earthquake has left no impact on the plant and the facility is continuing its operation normally.

“Tremors were felt at the plant, but the earthquake did not affect the standard situation at the energy block. All personnel continue to work in the normal regime, the levels of radiation are within the norms,” he said.