Russia, Iran discuss nuclear plant progress

NUCLEAR TALKS: Technicians prepare to wash the reactor of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. (AFP)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday discussed progress on a nuclear power plant Russia is building in Iran, a statement from Putin's office said.

"Both sides underlined the need for timely construction of the atomic power station at Bushehr," the statement said.

They also discussed cooperation in the transport and arms sectors, the statement said.

Russia says it is close to completing the decades-long project to build Iran's first nuclear power station at Bushehr, for which Moscow has already shipped nuclear fuel to the Islamic republic.

The United States has dropped earlier objections, conceding that the power plant will allow Iran to have civilian nuclear power without needing to process nuclear fuel itself.

However the West continues to fear Iran's nuclear ambitions, suspecting Tehran is developing a covert weapons programme. Iran denies such claims.

Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has been cautious about the Western accusations but has nonetheless approved sanctions against the Islamic republic.

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Russia,Iran discuss nuclear plant progress
Posted by GWhiz, Dubai, UAE on Wednesday 9 July 2008 at 10:30 UAE time


Perhaps at the price of sounding naive but, is not Russia in a prime position to be able to diffuse all accusations coming from the 'West' regarding this nuclear power plant? If they, themselves are building it for the Iranians, then surely they are in the best position to say whether it is actually capable of enrichment for weapons? I do not condone ANY nuclear weapons but there are many countries who do have nuclear power to meet the energy needs for their people. Do not others think it is strange that on one hand Russia is building this facility and on the other is proceeding with sanctions along with others against Iran?

There are many issues in the Middle East that need addressing as many, many people are displaced, heartbroken and in despair. Perhaps the countries need to address these issues instead of provoking another war, for which most, if not ALL are against. It would be an absolute tragedy for the Gulf as a whole and for ALL the people and countries within it. The Gulf and all its people have so much to give and do so, we are all part of it, restructuring, building, managing, assisting. Not all are on the 'take'.

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