Posted on 10/10/2004 2:36:48 PM PDT by freedom44
Iran and Russia announced on Sunday that the two countries are about to finalize their delayed protocol on returning spent nuclear fuel to Russia, preparing to the launch of a Russian-built nuclear power plant in southern Iran in 2006.
Russia said it won’t send any nuclear fuel to Iran until both countries sign a deal under which all spent fuel would be returned to Russia.
"The agreement on returning spent nuclear fuel is in the final stage," Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters. "I think it will be signed soon."
This deal has been delayed for so long for financial reasons. Iran says it doesn't have facilities for storing the spent fuel, and Moscow wants to pay in order to take back the fuel to Russia.
The fuel agreement will pave the way for the inauguration in 2006 of Iran's first light-water 1,000-megawatt nuclear reactor, built by Russia in Bushehr, southern Iran.
It is not clear yet when will the two countries sign the deal.
The $800 million Bushehr contract has stirred the United States' anger for years, which claims that such project could help Iran build nuclear weapons.
Lavrov, who arrived in Iran Sunday on a short visit, also called on the country to comply with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s resolution, demanding it to suspend all uranium enrichment- related activities.
"The IAEA board has called on Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment activities voluntarily, not as an obligation," he said. "This is to the interests of Iran and all that Tehran responds positively to IAEA."
However, Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi rejected the call.
Nuclear enrichment is Iran "legitimate right"
"It is Iran's legitimate right to master nuclear technology including uranium enrichment," Kharrazi told reporters. "There is no talk of stopping it. It's not something Iran can accept."
"However, Iran is open to any proposal or mechanism to ensure that it won't go towards nuclear weapons."
Iran is given the permission for uranium enrichment under its obligations to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. However, over the past few month, the Islamic state has been facing mounting international pressure to halt such activities, even though it has repeatedly assured the world that those activities are only for peaceful purposes.
Russia refuses referring Iran to the UN Security Council
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that his country strongly rejects referring Iran to the UN Security Council for its nuclear activities, saying that such a move could be "counter-productive".
"To start thinking of any scenario which is not constructive to our point of view is premature and could be counter-productive," Lavrov said at a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharazi.
"We will be expecting the cooperation between Iran and the IAEA to continue," added Lavrov, who is in a short visit to Tehran.
Lavrov’s remarks came after being asked whether Russia would veto any UN resolution against Iran, in case the Islamic state was referred to the UN Security Council.
Russia has reiterated more than once that it will continue its nuclear cooperation with Iran as long as the nation complies with the IAEA.
Thanks for the clarification.
"Russia is moving into the Mideastern orbit. China is already there. It is going to get interesting."
Kinda like Mount St. Helens, quaking underground, pressure building, yet nobody knows "if" or when she blows.
Big Jet Engines Roaring In The Jewish State! Pull the Chocks!
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