Moscow, Sept. 24 -- Iran says it is ready to formalize an expanded nuclear energy partnership with Russia that would add eight new reactor units to its grid, a sweeping buildout anchored at the Persian Gulf port of Bushehr and framed in Tehran as the fastest path to 20,000 megawatts of nuclear-generated electricity. The documents, which the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, is set to sign in Moscow, were trailed by Russian and Iranian outlets and confirmed by wire services covering his visit during Moscow talks. Eslami and other officials cast the effort as part of a long-term plan to reach the 20,000 megawatt mark, a figure reiterated in recent coverage of the program's expansion toward 20,000 MW.

Iran's openin...