Iran ? Iran plans to build at least one more nuclear power plant despite international concern over its atomic program, the country’s top nuclear negotiator said Monday.

Ali Larijani said he did not expect the plan to affect upcoming nuclear talks with Europe.

“It is part of meeting our electricity needs; it is not a secret issue,” he told a news conference,

“We plan to construct two more nuclear power plants,” Larijani told reporters, adding that the projects would be open to international bidding.

It was unclear whether Larijani was describing two entirely new plants Monday, or one new plant in addition to the planned Khuzestan facility.

Khuzestan is the site of an unfinished French-built power plant where construction was halted after the 1979 Islamic revolution.