Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — Iran has shut down its nuclear energy reactor.

This marked at least the third shutdown of the $1 billion Bushehr in less than a year.

Previous shutdowns of the 1,000 megawatt facility were attributed to alleged computer virus attacks attributed to Israel and the United States. The facility began full operations late 2012.

The Iranian Atomic Energy Organization said it suspended operations at the nuclear reactor in Bushehr for two months. The organization said Iran’s only nuclear energy reactor was shut down for refueling.

On Dec. 29, IAEO director Ali Salehi said activities at Bushehr would be halted until March 2014. Salehi said Bushehr would receive nuclear fuel but did not elaborate.

Russia has been the prime contractor of Bushehr and supplied nearly 100
tons of nuclear fuel.

Salehi said Iran was negotiating with Moscow for the construction of another four reactors.

  Ali Salehi, Iran shuts down Bushehr reactor for third time in less than a year, Iranian Atomic Energy Organization