Iran ? Iran’s president on Wednesday called on other countries to help the Islamic Republic build new nuclear reactors, but said that his country will do so alone if denied assistance.

Tehran earlier announced plans to hold tenders for the construction of 19 new nuclear reactors to generate 20 gigawatts of electricity within the next two decades.

“We propose today that you join projects to build Iranian nuclear power plants, but we warn that if you refuse, the Iranian nation will construct nuclear power plants on its own, leaning on its scientists and its capabilities,” President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a rally during a visit to the southern province of Bushehr.

He said that if countries wait another four years before making cooperation proposals, Iran will turn them down.