NICOSIA Ñ Russia has pledged to reject U.S. concerns and not only complete a
nuclear power plant for Iran but also help build six additional reactors.
Russian Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev delivered the message during his current visit to Teheran. Rumyantsev is expected
to sign an agreement to expand nuclear cooperation with Teheran.
The Russian minister is also expected to discuss Iranian plans for the
construction of up to six additional nuclear reactors, Middle East Newsline reported.. Rumyantsev said his
ministry wants to play a major role in helping Iran achieve its plans to
increase its nuclear capacity six-fold.
The United States has pressed Russia to suspend its project to construct
a nuclear reactor in Bushehr until Teheran agrees to an intrusive
inspections regime and the shipment of all nuclear fuel to Russia. The
Bushehr project, estimated at between $800 million and $1 billion, has
reached a critical stage as the core for the nuclear reactor is being
prepared.
"Although Russia and Iran are criticized by certain countries for
construction of an atomic power plant, we consider ourselves duty bound to
finish the project on the power plant which is considered as Iran's
undeniable right," Rumyantsev said. "That is the official stance of senior
Russian officials and we will not give in to pretexts and ballyhoos created
by other countries with regard to the peaceful cooperation."
Iran has agreed to sign an accord for the shipment of all nuclear
fuel to Russia. But Iran has resisted Russia's appeal to agree to a new
instrusive inspection regimen drafted by the International Atomic Energy
Agency.
During his visit, Rumyantsev plans to tour the Bushehr facility. Russian
officials have asserted that the nuclear reactor could be operational in
2005 but Rumyantsev said the first energy unit could be activated in less
than another year.
"In our opinion, time has come to agree on the final deadline for
delivering nuclear fuel to the nuclear power station and for launching the
first energy unit in late 2003 with the Iranian side," the minister said.
