Bushehr nuclear energy plant not damaged by quake

An Iranian official has dismissed rumors of a possible radiation leak at the Bushehr nuclear power plant following a strong earthquake in the region last week. Mohammad Ahmadian, the deputy of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said the facility was constructed to withstand an 8-magnitude tremor on the Richter scale, Iran's PressTV reported Monday. A 6.1-magnitude quake shook the town of Kaki about 62 miles southeast of Bushehr last Tuesday, killing at least 37 people and injuring more than 1,000. The Bushehr plant "has been designed based on the most advanced and strict international regulation," Ahmadian said. Given the strength of the earthquake and its distance from the nuclear energy facility, he said, "It is natural that the quake would not create any problems." He made the comments after the Gulf Cooperation Council asked the International Atomic Energy Agency to check the Bushehr facility for any damage from the quake. Iran and Russia have said the plant fully complies with IAEA standards and safeguards.