Russia to help Iran go nuclear

Settled differences: Head of the Russian Federal Nuclear Power Agency Sergei Kiriyenko (R) shakes hands with Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki (L) in Moscow. (Getty Images)

Russia and Iran have settled all differences over the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power station and agreed on a timetable for completion, the Russian contractor building it said on Thursday.

Russia's role in building Bushehr, Iran's first nuclear power station, is a key element in a diplomatic dispute over Iran's nuclear ambitions.

"We have resolved all the problems with the Iranians," said Sergei Shmatko, president of state-controlled Atomstroiexport, which is building the Bushehr plant on the Gulf.

"We have agreed with our Iranian colleagues a timeframe for completing the plant and we will make an announcement at the end of December," Shmatko told reporters.

The US, leading EU nations and Israel say they suspect Iran wants to develop a nuclear weapon and have pressed Moscow to drop the $1 billion Bushehr project.

But Russia says there is no evidence that Tehran is seeking nuclear weapons and that the uranium Moscow intends to ship to Bushehr is too weak to develop a nuclear bomb. Tehran says its nuclear programme is aimed only at generating electricity.

Russia, using Bushehr as a lever in relations with Tehran, has repeatedly put back the start-up date, citing Iranian delays in making payments of millions of dollars.

Iran always said it was up to date with payments. Shmatko said those problems were all resolved, but did not give details.

Nuclear fuel for Iran?

According to Russian forecasts, the first reactor at the Bushehr plant could be started up in 2008 and nuclear fuel would have to be shipped to Bushehr six months ahead of time.

"We absolutely, definitely intend to build the Bushehr atomic power station and intend definitely to deliver the fuel to the plant," said Shmatko, who said that Russia and Iran may form a joint venture to run the plant.

He did not say when the fuel would be shipped to the plant.

Russian officials said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which sealed the fuel last month, confirmed the Bushehr fuel is Uranium-235 enriched to less than 5%.

President Vladimir Putin visited Tehran in October, prompting speculation that the Kremlin wanted to play a bigger role in the diplomacy around Iran's nuclear programme.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki met his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, for talks in Moscow on Thursday.

"We are of course sincerely interested in solving the problems around the Iranian nuclear dossier as soon as possible," Lavrov said in opening remarks at their meeting.

"This is possible only on the basis of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the principles of the International Atomic Energy Agency and on the principle that Iran has the right to develop peaceful nuclear energy."

"We note progress in relations between the IAEA and Iran and encourage further progress to... remove all remaining questions and restore international confidence in Iran," Lavrov said.

Mottaki, at an earlier meeting with the head of Russia's atomic energy agency, Sergei Kiriyenko, proposed forming a joint gas company with Russia, RIA news agency reported. (Reuters)

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