Nuclear News

Russia, Iran agree timetable for Bushehr reactor launch

Sep 26, 2006, 10:31 GMT

Moscow - Russia and Iran have signed an additional agreement cementing the timeframe of the launch of the Bushehr nuclear power plant reactor next year, senior government officials said in Moscow Tuesday.

The document 'envisions the supply of fuel in March, the physical launch in September 2007, and the energy launch in November 2007,' the Itar-Tass news agency reported, citing consultations between heads of the respective nuclear authorities.

At talks in the Kremlin, the secretary of the Russian Security Council Igor Ivanov said Russia would make good on its promises on the completion of Iran's first nuclear reactor, which has been hampered by repeated delays.

'A concrete plan for the construction of the nuclear reactor in Bushehr has been laid out and we will strictly abide by our agreements,' Ivanov told Gholam-Reza Aqazadeh, Iran's vice-president and the head of its Atomic Energy Organization, Interfax news agency reported.

Moscow was satisfied with the development of the relations with Tehran and interested in furthering the 'spirit of friendship,' Ivanov told Aqazadeh.

In recent weeks, Iran has pressured Russia to provide exact dates for the start of the power plant in southern Gulf port. Initially, Russia pledged to begin the first phase of the project in 2000 but delayed the launch several times.

The United States opposes Russia's close nuclear cooperation with Iran and accuses Tehran of using the technology to develop weapons of mass destruction.