Iran: Bushehr nuclear power plant taken off line

TEHRAN, Iran - Mar 13 - Associated Press

Iran's vice president says the Bushehr nuclear power plant has been disconnected from the country's electricity grid because of a mechanical problem.

Fereidoun Abbasi, vice president and head of Iran's nuclear agency, said there was a problem with the power plant's generator, according to the official IRNA news agency Wednesday.

Abbasi said the Bushehr nuclear power plant is still in the experimental stage, and such malfunctions can be expected. He said Russian contractors have brought in equipment to fix the generator, and it is expected to be back in operation in a few days.

The West has imposed stiff sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, suspecting it might be aiming for nuclear weapons production. Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, like generating electricity.

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