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Iran demands Russian 'flexibility' on handling of nuclear fuel

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Sunday, February 27, 2005

Iran and Russia have delayed the signing of an agreement meant to ensure the completion of the Bushehr nuclear reactor.

Iranian officials said the agreement – meant to have been signed on Saturday in Teheran – was delayed by a series of last-minute disputes. They said the two countries couldn't agree on such issues as the launch of Bushehr as well as a timetable for the delivery and return of nuclear fuel.

The United States has determined that Bushehr could be used for the production of plutonium meant for Iran's nuclear weapons program.

Despite the delay, both Iran and Russia played down their differences and said the accord would be signed on Sunday, Middle East Newsline reported. They said the agreement would be signed during a tour of Bushehr by visiting Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency director Alexander Rumyantsev.

"The deal includes three documents with two of them relating to the protocol and financial issues," Iranian Atomic Energy Organization deputy director Mohammad Saidi said. "They will be signed Sunday when Russian top nuclear official Alexander Rumyantsev inspects the Bushehr power plant."

Officials said the Russian delegation headed by Rumyantsev negotiated through late Saturday to resolve differences with Iran. They said a key dispute concerned the timetable for the return to Moscow of spent nuclear fuel used in Bushehr. The difference in timetable between the two sides was said to have been no more than two months.

"The Russians should show some flexibility," Saidi said.

Last week, Iran and Russia said they had agreed on all issues required for the completion of Bushehr. They said this included the storage and delivery of nuclear fuel to Iran as well as financial arrangements.

Saidi said Iran and Russia presented different timetables for the launch of Bushehr. He said two groups of Iranian and Russian experts were seeking to bridge this and other gaps.

"The Russians proposing bringing the Bushehr power station on line in June 2006," Saidi said on Saturday. "We rejected this proposal. Discussions will need to continue in Bushehr tomorrow for us to reach agreement."

For his part, Rumyantsev expressed optimism that an agreement would be signed during his visit. His visit to Teheran had been delayed for nearly a year amid a dispute between Moscow and Teheran over the return of spent nuclear fueld.

"There is no discord between the Russian and Iranian sides over the draft document," Rumyantsev was quoted as telling the Moscow-based Itar-Tass news agency. "I expect to sign the document tomorrow [Sunday], at the [Bushehr] power station."

The $1 billion Bushehr project has been delayed for more than three years amid disputes between Moscow and Teheran regarding technical and financial issues. Iranian officials said Russia must deliver the first batch of nuclear fuel by June 2005 for Bushehr to launch operations in early 2006.

Iran's nuclear program was expected to be the focus of a Feb. 28 meeting by the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency.


Copyright © 2005 East West Services, Inc.

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