Tehran said Tuesday that even the United States could participate in future nuclear projects in Iran, dpa reported.
"We have several nuclear projects in the future and any country, including the US, could participate in these projects, both via private or state companies," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told a press conference.
Iran plans to build at least 10 new uranium-enrichment sites, the
first by March next year, and new nuclear power plants.
The spokesman rejected remarks by White House spokesman Robert Gibbs last week that the Russian-built nuclear reactor in the Gulf port of Bushehr would make Iran needless of any further uranium enrichment.
"The remarks by the White House are baseless because we will need fuel for our other nuclear plants which are to be gradually built, and therefore the enrichment process needs to be continued for producing our own fuel for these new plants," Mehmanparast said.
Fuel for the Bushehr plant will be provided by Russia. According to the contract inked by Tehran and Moscow, the spent fuel rods are to be returned to Russia.
The spokesman said the plant will be officially opened Saturday and the fuel gradually installed in the coming weeks.
Iranian atomic chief Ali-Akbar Salehi said inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency would attend the inauguration ceremony in Bushehr.
He said the 1,000-megawatt, light-water reactor would require more than six months to reach maximum power level.