Fact Check: Construction on the Bushehr plant began under Iran’s Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in the mid-1970s.

Fact Check: "Construction on the Bushehr plant began under Iran’s Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in the mid-1970s."

What We Know

The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, located in Iran, is notable for being the first civilian nuclear power plant in the Middle East. According to multiple sources, including Wikipedia and NPR, construction of the Bushehr plant began in 1975 under the regime of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The initial contract for the construction was signed with German companies, specifically Kraftwerk Union AG, which was a joint venture of Siemens AG and AEG-Telefunken. The project was intended to support Iran's energy needs, with the Shah envisioning a national electrical grid powered by nuclear energy. However, construction was halted in 1979 following the Iranian Revolution, which led to significant political upheaval and a shift in Iran's relations with the West.

Analysis

The claim that construction on the Bushehr plant began under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi is supported by credible sources. The Wikipedia article details the timeline of the project's inception, noting that construction started in 1975 and was interrupted by the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Similarly, NPR corroborates this information, stating that the plant's construction commenced in the mid-1970s and was subsequently affected by the political changes in Iran.

The reliability of these sources is generally high, as they are well-regarded in the media and academic communities. Wikipedia, while user-edited, is often cited for its comprehensive coverage of historical events, and NPR is known for its journalistic integrity. Other sources, such as ABC News and The National, also affirm the timeline of the Bushehr plant's construction, further reinforcing the accuracy of the claim.

There are no significant contradictions in the available literature regarding the timeline of the Bushehr plant's construction. The consensus among various reputable sources confirms that the project was initiated during the Shah's rule and faced interruptions due to the political climate in Iran.

Conclusion

The claim that "Construction on the Bushehr plant began under Iran’s Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in the mid-1970s" is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources consistently supports this assertion, detailing the initiation of the project in 1975 and its subsequent halt following the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Fact Check: Construction on the Bushehr plant began under Iran’s Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in the mid-1970s.