russia plans to sign deal on nuclear fuel for iran

Russia plans to sign deal on nuclear fuel for Iran

13.02.2004

MOSCOW - Russia said on Thursday it planned to sign a deal with Iran next month to ship nuclear fuel for Iran's power plant, defying US pressure on Moscow to sever nuclear ties with the Islamic Republic.

Tehran and Moscow have been locked in months of tough talks over nuclear shipments for the $800 million ($1.15 billion) Bushehr plant Russia has helped to build despite repeated US accusations that Iran is secretly trying to acquire nuclear arms.

"I think in about two weeks all outstanding issues will be settled, that is, by the end of February," Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev told reporters.

He said he hoped to sign the final document, which also requires Iran to return spent nuclear fuel to Russia, during a visit to Tehran in late March.

"The United States has criticised us and will continue to criticise us," Rumyantsev said. "They say Iran seeks nuclear weapons under the cover of our peaceful technology transfer."

"But we keep telling them they've got that wrong. We think we abide by all international laws."

Washington wants Moscow to withhold fuel for the reactor as long as Tehran's nuclear ambitions remain a matter of concern.

Minutes after Rumyantsev's briefing, top US arms control official John Bolton accused Iran of failing to comply with the commitment it made last year to suspend uranium enrichment.

- REUTERS