MOSCOW, May 27: Russia, currently building Iran’s first nuclear reactor, expressed concern on Tuesday over Tehran’s nuclear plans, days ahead of a U.S-Russian summit, but vowed to continue work on the power plant.
Russia’s technology sales to Iran and the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power station have been major irritants in Moscow-Washington ties, adding to unease over Russia’s refusal to support the US-led war in Iraq.
Washington accuses Iran of developing a secret nuclear weapons programme. Iran denies the charge, saying its nuclear facilities are solely geared to electricity generation.
At a meeting with Iran’s ambassador on Tuesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Mamedov “expressed concern over serious outstanding issues concerning Iran’s nuclear programme and stressed the importance of an exhaustive discussion of this problem at the meeting of the IAEA board of governors,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is due to discuss Iran next month and could rule it in violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), signed by Iran in 1970.
Russia says it is providing Iran with only civil nuclear equipment and that spent fuel from the 1,000-megawatt plant under construction at the southwestern port of Bushehr will be shipped back to Russia for reprocessing.
Russia won an $800 million contract in the early 199Os to help finish the plant, due for completion by early 2004.
Moscow’s expression of concern could help smooth the way before this week’s meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President George W. Bush, their first since the Iraq war.
But Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev said Russia would not bow to US pressure and would stand by its plans to build Bushehr.
“Russia does not see any reason now to review its stance and its role regarding construction of the first nuclear reactor,” Prime Tass news agency quoted Rumyantsev as saying after talks with visiting Iranian nuclear officials.
“We will continue to fulfil our duties despite the fact that our position on this question is different from Washington’s official view.”
US officials question why Iran, the second-biggest oil producer in OPEC, needs a nuclear power station. Iran is also developing other nuclear facilities, including a uranium enrichment plant.
Washington has stepped up its criticism of Iran in recent days, also accusing Tehran of harbouring Al Qaeda members.
The Washington Post reported that US policymakers were due to gather at the White House on Tuesday to consider proposals to take a tougher stance on Iran, including action to topple its clerical leadership through popular uprisings.
Iran — part of Bush’s “axis of evil” alongside Iraq and North Korea — warned Washington on Tuesday to stay out of its internal affairs.
US Undersecretary of State John Bolton last month failed to convince Moscow to curtail nuclear cooperation with Iran.—Reuters