Newsbrief: Iran building second nuclear reactor

by Paul Lambert
edited by Brian Carey

(Photo: Getty Images)

Despite the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran is now in the process of building a second nuclear reactor at the Bushehr power plant, according to The Independent. 

The groundbreaking of the second reactor comes after United States sanctions blocked Tehran from selling crude oil to other countries. Those sanctions were implemented by President Donald Trump after he pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal in May of 2018.

The second reactor is being built with help from Russia, who also assisted Iran in getting Bushehr’s first reactor running back in 2011. Russia also produces the uranium needed to fuel the Bushehr reactor.

The rest of the world is worried because of Iran’s production of enriched uranium to fuel the plant. Iran currently makes 4.5 percent of the uranium used to power Bushehr, more than the 3.67 percent granted under the nuclear deal.