Iran’s Vice President and head of the Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, arrived in Moscow to sign agreements with Russia for the construction of eight nuclear power plants, coinciding with UN talks on reinstating sanctions on Tehran.

Eslami said Iran aims to produce 20 gigawatts of nuclear energy by 2040.

While European states accuse Iran of violating the 2015 nuclear deal, Tehran insists its program is peaceful.

Moscow maintains Iran has the right to develop civilian nuclear power.