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If you have a chance, you might want to take a look at the threads at Mutter's ezboard discussion group- they update world events and are tracking developments with Iran, North Korea, etc. I saw this there:

2004-09-29 14:36 * RUSSIA * IRAN * SECURITY COUNCIL * ATOM * COOPERATION *

RUSSIA WILL CONTINUE COOPERATION WITH IRAN IN NUCLEAR SPHERE - SECRETARY OF THE RUSSIAN SECURITY COUNCIL

MOSCOW, September 29 (RIA Novosti)

Russia is developing cooperation with Iran in the nuclear sphere, Igor Ivanov, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, said at a press conference in Moscow.

In particular he reminded those present about the project of building a nuclear power station in Bushehr. This project will be completed provided the spent nuclear fuel will be returned to Russia, he said.

"If we had had some doubts we would not have been so persistent in completing this project despite all the pressure exerted on us," the Security Council Secretary said replying to the question about the apprehensions voiced by some countries about the possibility of creating nuclear weapons by Iran.

Moreover, Ivanov pointed out that if separate countries have apprehensions that Iran can develop nuclear weapons, and Russia does not have any, such apprehensions could be removed through greater openness. The Secretary of the Russian Security Council positively assessed Iran's latest steps in this sphere. In his opinion they "created a favorable situation."

Ivanov cited the following example: "Questions arise what for Iran needs a full cycle for the enrichment of uranium if this is inexpedient economically. If the question is posed - an answer should be given."

"An open dialogue between Iran and representatives of the world community is needed," he stressed.

He pointed out that Iran is right when it declares that it "must enjoy the same right of access to high technologies as other states."

en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm...do_alert=0