MOSCOW, Dec 17: Russia will intensify its economic technological cooperation with Iran, including construction of a second nuclear reactor in Iran, officials said here on Friday.

A timetable for building the additional unit will be agreed at the next meeting of the Russian-Iranian intergovernmental commission, Iranian Economics and Finance Minister Safdar Hosseini told journalists.

Russia is currently completing construction of Iran's first nuclear reactor at the southern port of Bushehr. The plant is due to come online in early 2006 amid fears in Washington that the technology is being used in secret weapons programmes.

Iran plans to build six or seven reactors and is in negotiation with potential partners in Russia and Europe, said Russian Nuclear Power Minister Alexander Rumyantsyev. Cooperation will also be enlarged in aviation, according to Trade and Industry Minister Viktor Khristenko.

A contract for the delivery of five Russian 212-seat Tupolyev 204- 100 passenger planes will be signed next year and talks held about the supply of "a large number of planes", he said. -dpa