Iran speeds up nuclear plant payments to Russia
Construction of the Bushehr plant delayed, forcing Tehran to accelerate payments to Russia to complete it on schedule. 'Every country in the world has the right to develop nuclear industries for peaceful purposes and this goes for Iran too,' says Russian atomic director
Iran will accelerate its payments to Russia so that the latter will complete the construction of the Bushehr power plant according to the agreed schedule, this according to the head of the Russian atomic agency on Monday.
Russia has been contracted by Iran to construct a light water reactor for the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which Iran claims will only be used for civilian purposes.
Busheher is separate from the uranium enrichment projects concentrated primarily in the Natnaz and Isfahan sites. Iran has agreed to pay Russia USD 800 million for the construction of the reactor – Russia in turn pledged to complete the job within several months, but the project encountered numerous financial and bureaucratic hurdles.
Until recently the construction of the reactor was a key factor in the dispute between Russia and the West regarding global sanctions on Iran. Western states wanted to forbid the sale of Russian nuclear fuel to Iran as part of the sanctions.
Russia opposed the clause and rejected the grave sanctions. However, the West recently displayed flexibility over the issue, saying that Russia may continue to construct the reactor and sell nuclear fuel to Iran after its completion, even to a sanctioned Tehran. This Western flexibility hopes that Russia will now drop its objection over the sanctions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki and Head of the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency Sergei Kiriyenko signed a 17-clause agreement, pledging cooperation in matters of energy, gas, electricity, nuclear energy, technology, space and commerce.
Mottaki and Kiriyenko shake hands (Photo: AP)
Kiriyenko also met with Iranian Atomic Energy Organization Director Gholamreza Aqazadeh to discuss the works at Bushehr. Agazadeh said during a joint press conference with Kiriyenko that Iran has decided to provide assistance beyond previous agreements to Russia in order to solve the technical problems of the power plant and to bring it on stream on schedule.
IAE Deputy Director Mohammad Saeedi emphasized that, “Iran will not pay Russia more than what has been agreed.”
Iranian FM Mottaki said that the construction of the light water reactor is a symbol of Iran-Russia relations.
"Iran’s nuclear issue must be resolved through diplomatic channels," said Kiriyenko, adding that Russia believes that "every country in the world has the right to develop nuclear industries for peaceful purposes and this goes for Iran too."
