Russia to build 2nd nuclear reactor for Iran
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, December 6, 2000
MOSCOW — Russia is preparing to build a second nuclear reactor for
Iran.
Russian officials said Moscow has been awarded a contract to build a
second unit for the nuclear reactor at Bushehr. A spokesman for the Russian
Nuclear Power Ministry, Andrei Edemski, said the contract is worth $1
billion.
Moscow, the officials said, is intent in accelerating the development of
the second unit of the Bushehr reactor. The first unit, the construction of
which was launched by Germany, took a decade and was riddled with financial
and bureaucratic obstacles.
Israel and the United States have accused Iran of using the Bushehr
reactor to develop nuclear weapons. They said Russia has provided Iran with
nuclear weapons help over the last year, including centrifugal technology.
Russia is also said to be training more than 700 Iranian scientists and
technicians in the nuclear field.
The new Bushehr contract is expected to be a focus of talks when Iranian
President Mohammad Khatami arrives in Moscow early next year. Russia wants
to sign a $1.7 billion contract to supply Iran with advanced aircraft,
anti-aircraft defense systems, submarines and missiles.
The U.S. Congress is expected to discuss Russia's help to Iran when it
convenes on Tuesday. Members of Congress are pressing the Clinton
administration to impose sanctions on Moscow for its rejection of a 1995 ban
on Russian arms deliveries to Teheran.
Wednesday, December 6, 2000
|