Following are excerpts from an interview by Iranian Energy Minister Parviz Fattah, which aired on Channel 1, Iranian TV, on March 12, 2006.

Anchor: The energy minister said that within six months, Iranian experts would begin building a new nuclear power plant.

Parviz Fattah: We have officially informed the president that the Energy Ministry is prepared and has the capabilities, having made the necessary inquiries.

My deputies and I have held several meetings with Mr. Aghazadeh [head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization]. We have received the blue-prints, and the turbines have been studied as well. Suitable sites have been located. We proudly announce that Iran has the capacity and can rely on its knowledge to build an Iranian nuclear power plant.

We were authorized to do this. Allah willing, at the earliest opportunity, we will make an official announcement, at one of the designated sites, that the Energy Ministry is capable of building nuclear power plants, just like any other nuclear power plant.

[...]

Anchor: Regarding the status of the Bushehr power plant, the energy minister said that according to the contract with the Russians, the power plant should be handed over [to the Iranians] by the end of 2006. He also said that this period must not be extended.