|
Russia delays Iran nuclear plant
Russia signaled sharp dissatisfaction Monday with Iran's defiant stance on nuclear issues, declaring that the start-up of a Russian-built nuclear reactor will be delayed and warning that Moscow will not join Tehran "in anti-American games.""They wouldn't let poor Tehran join in any Atomstroyexport, the state-owned Russian company building Iran's first nuclear power plant, announced that the supply of fuel to the nearly completed Bushehr facility will not begin this month as had been planned because of unresolved disputes over project financing. The scheduled September launch of the reactor also will be delayed, it said. Meanwhile, an official described as "an insider" told the three main Russian news agencies that Tehran had abused its ties with Moscow on the nuclear issue. Iran's defiance of the International Atomic Energy Agency has caused Russia to suffer "losses in relation to its foreign policy and image, but they insist on their line," the official said, as quoted by Itar-Tass. "Iran with a nuclear bomb or a potential for its creation is impermissible for us," the official said. "We will not play with them in anti-American games. ... The Iranians are abusing our constructive attitude and have done nothing to help us convince our colleagues of Tehran's consistency." Moscow has sought to continue its cooperation with Iran in construction of the $1 billion Bushehr plant while urging Tehran to cooperate with the IAEA to reassure the world community that its nuclear program is peaceful. But in recent weeks, Moscow and Tehran have engaged in acrimonious negotiations over terms of payment for work at the Russian-built facility. Talks in Moscow last week ended without agreement. More talks were scheduled in Tehran this week. An Atomstroyexport spokesman quoted by the state-run Russian news agency RIA Novosti said Monday that the supply of nuclear fuel for Bushehr will not begin this month because Iran has refused to sign documents on resumption of payments for the project. Russia claims that Iran has failed to make agreed-upon payments of $25 million per month, while Iran claims that it has met its financial obligations. "Today, we are facing an unprecedented attitude on the part of the Iranian side to the Bushehr project, which was until recently considered the flagship of Russian-Iranian cooperation," the Atomstroyexport spokesman said. In Tehran, Kazem Jalali, an Iranian lawmaker, sharply criticized delays in the project and said they may damage Iranian-Russian relations. "Any procrastination and delay in construction and delivery of the Bushehr power plant can reverse the balance in favor of those not calling for ties with Russia," Jalali said, according to Iranian news agency IRNA. Posted by: ryuge 2007-03-13 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=182973 |