Iranian FM meets Russian nuclear chief
Thursday, 13 September 2007
MOSCOW, Sept 12 (AFP): Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was due to meet Russia's nuclear chief, Sergei Kiriyenko, in Moscow today as the Islamic republic tries to salvage the stalled construction of its first atomic power station.
Mottaki, who arrived in Moscow late Tuesday, was due to meet with Kiriyenko, the head of the state nuclear agency Rosatom, and also Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, an Iranian embassy spokesman told AFP.
His visit comes as Iran is fighting to get the Bushehr nuclear power station project back on track after a series of delays in the final stages of construction.
"It's important that the Russian representatives hold the basic position that the Bushehr project will be completed," an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti news agnecy.
Russia started work on the plant in 1995 but completion has been delayed amid Russian complaints that Tehran is not paying on time and Iranian accusations that the United States wants to derail the whole project.
The plant is a cornerstone of Iran's controversial nuclear programme, which Tehran insists is solely aimed at providing electricity for a growing population but which the United States says masks an atomic weapons drive.
Despite the problems, Iran is now insisting that Russia is committed to finishing the plant and providing the required nuclear fuel as outlined in previous agreements.
Last week Mottaki said that the issue of the Bushehr plant would be discussed during an upcoming visit to Tehran by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Mottaki, who arrived in Moscow late Tuesday, was due to meet with Kiriyenko, the head of the state nuclear agency Rosatom, and also Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, an Iranian embassy spokesman told AFP.
His visit comes as Iran is fighting to get the Bushehr nuclear power station project back on track after a series of delays in the final stages of construction.
"It's important that the Russian representatives hold the basic position that the Bushehr project will be completed," an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti news agnecy.
Russia started work on the plant in 1995 but completion has been delayed amid Russian complaints that Tehran is not paying on time and Iranian accusations that the United States wants to derail the whole project.
The plant is a cornerstone of Iran's controversial nuclear programme, which Tehran insists is solely aimed at providing electricity for a growing population but which the United States says masks an atomic weapons drive.
Despite the problems, Iran is now insisting that Russia is committed to finishing the plant and providing the required nuclear fuel as outlined in previous agreements.
Last week Mottaki said that the issue of the Bushehr plant would be discussed during an upcoming visit to Tehran by Russian President Vladimir Putin.