Russia and Iran said yesterday they had finished construction of a nuclear-power plant in Iran — a project the United States fears Iran could use to make nuclear arms. Diplomats in Moscow said the announcement, made after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Iran, reflected Russia's readiness to press ahead with the project in return for Iran's increased cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog. "All we need to do now is work out an agreement on sending spent fuel back to Russia," said a spokesman for Russia's Atomic Energy Agency (RosAtom).
Such an agreement is designed to allay U.S. concerns. Iran would guarantee it would return to Russia all spent nuclear fuel, which can be used to make weapons. But the signing, due last year, has been repeatedly delayed. Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of the Iranian Parliament's Foreign Affairs and National Security Commission, confirmed the construction phase at Bushehr. "The [nuclear-fuel] agreement is practically ready. If experts agree on a few remaining commercial matters, it could be signed in November," Boroujerdi told reporters in Moscow after talks with Russian officials. Iran insists its nuclear program is entirely peaceful.
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