Putin government rejects U.S. pressure on nuclear aid to Iran

MOSCOW -- Russia under acting President Vladimir Putin has rejected U.S. appeals for Moscow to end aid to Iran's missile and nuclear programs.

Officials said Russian leaders have reassured Iran that their government would not halt the flow of technology to Iran's military programs. They said the aid would continue despite the prospect of additional U.S. sanctions.

Russia, the officials said, regards Iran as a key ally in confronting what they termed U.S. hegemony. They said other key Russian allies include China and India, cooperation with whom intensified after NATO's campaign against Yugoslavia.

The latest expression of support for Iran came from Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, who termed cooperation between Teheran and Moscow as vital. In a meeting with Iranian vice parliamentary speaker Hassan Rowhani, Ivanov termed relations with Iran as strategic and dismissed any attempt to disrupt the ties.

Ivanov said Iran and Russia cooperate in the Caspian Sea, including efforts against a U.S.-sponsored oil pipeline from Turkmenistan and counterterrorism. The foreign minister said Moscow opposes U.S. attempts to isolate Iran.

For his part, Rowhani said Iran and Russia need to make decisions on their strategic and longstanding relations. He said Teheran is ready to settle any differences with Moscow.

Rowhani did not elaborate but diplomatic sources said the two countries have argued over Teheran's payment of debts to Moscow. Other arguments concern the development of the Iranian nuclear reactor at Bushehr.