A leaked report of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency shows the organisation is concerned that Iran may have more nuclear power plants than currently known.

In September, Tehran surprised the world when it announced it was building a second nuclear power plant near the city of Qom. Iran says construction began in 2007, but the IAEA says work on the second plant started as early as 2002. The UN organisation says the lack of clarity raises the question whether Iran is secretly building even more nuclear facilities. The IAEA is demanding Iran provide more information regarding the Qom plant.

Iran's nuclear programme is controversial because the West believes the country may be secretly working on a nuclear weapons programme, but Tehran says its nuclear programme is purely civilian in nature.

Russia is currently involved in the construction of a third nuclear power plant in Iran. Russian Energy Minister Sergei Smatko announced today that the new plant would not yet come on line this year due to technical problems.

Photo: cooling towers of a nuclear power plant (ANP)