Iran is at the center of an ongoing international dispute over its nuclear program, which it insists is aimed purely at producing nuclear-generated electricity, despite accusations that the program has military goals.
Viktor Mikhailov, Russia's ex-nuclear minister, said: "The country can build such facilities in five or six years, after overcoming a difficult path, full of obstacles."
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced at a press conference in Tehran Tuesday the country is planning to build 60,000 gas centrifuges to enrich uranium.
Iran may face tough sanctions by the UN Security Council for its refusal to halt nuclear enrichment activities.
Russia, which is building a $1 billion nuclear power plant in Iran, has consistently supported the country's right to nuclear power under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
