US again presses Russia on Iran nuclear link

Iranmania ^ | June 12 2003 | AFP

[knighthawk]

MOSCOW, June 11 (AFP) - The United States once again called Wednesday on Russia to halt its nuclear cooperation with Iran until Tehran signs a new UN protocol allowing for closer inspections of its suspected weapons program, Interfax reported.

The issue was raised during a telephone conversation between US Energy Secretary of State Spencer Abraham and his Russian counterpart Alexander Rumyantsev, the news report said.

Interfax said Spencer urged Russia to halt construction of Bushehr, Iran's first nuclear power plant, until Tehran signs an additional protocol with the UN's nuclear energy watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Ministry (IAEA).

In response, Rumyantsev reaffirmed Moscow's long-held stance that signature of the additional IAEA protocol never featured in the original agreement signed between Russia and Iran, and that the project would be continued, Interfax said.

Russia earlier this month delayed Bushehr's launch until 2005, a move seen as an indirect concession to both US and Israeli concerns over the Russia-Iran link.

The project's cost is estimated at between 800 million and one billion dollars (680 million and 850 million euros).

Interfax further quoted an atomic energy source as saying that Russia's nuclear cooperation with Iran was limited strictly to Bushehr and did not involve new projects aimed at helping Tehran develop its own nuclear fuel for the reactor.

Russia defended its Iranian relations during a meeting between Rumyantsev and visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom earlier this week, Interfax said.

"The Russian position that our bilateral ties (with Iran) are consistent with international agreements and are controlled by the IAEA was reiterated during the meeting" between Rumyantsev and Shalom, a ministry source told Interfax.

[knighthawk]

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