Iranian Energy Minister Parviz Fattah said Friday Iran would "finish and operate" its contested Bushehr nuclear plant by year's end in what he insisted was a peaceful nuclear program.
"Iran has chosen a direction for achieving peaceful nuclear energy. We have mainly reached this aim," Fattah said at the World Water Forum, where he was asked whether President Barack Obama's overture to Tehran would affect the Iranian nuclear program.
"Exactly 20 days from now we will have another celebration for celebrating the achievements we have gained for peaceful nuclear energy. You will hear about the news," he said, speaking through an interpreter at a press conference.
"Iran will finish and operate the Bushehr nuclear plant by the end of this year."