Iran - World Nuclear Performance Report
A single VVER-1000 unit is in operation in Iran on the Persian Gulf coast at the Bushehr site, about 180 km southwest of Shiraz.
Construction commenced on a second VVER-1000 at Bushehr in 2019. A further VVER-1000 is planned at the site, and in April 2024 the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said that first concrete would be poured in May, but this has not yet taken place.
Earlier, in August 2023 the head of the AEOI announced that the country aims to increase its nuclear power generation capacity to 20 GWe over the next 20 years. This announcement was followed up by the announcement of the start of site work in Hormozgan, which the AEOI said will host four reactors.
Since 2002 Iran has been the subject of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inquiries concerning its possible development of nuclear weapons. In June 2024 the IAEA board of governors adopted a resolution calling on Iran to fully cooperate with the Agency, including giving it access to locations and material for nuclear safeguards verification activities. On 12 June 2025 the IAEA’s board of governors formally declared Iran in breach of its nonproliferation obligations for the first time in 20 years.
On 13 June 2025 Israel launched a military operation targeting Iran’s nuclear and military sites. On 16 June the IAEA confirmed that the Bushehr nuclear power plant had not been targeted or affected by the attacks. On 21/22 June the USA conducted a series of aerial attacks on the sites of Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan. Again, no impact on the Bushehr nuclear power plant was reported.
Nuclear electricity production by age of reactor
