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23 October 2002

U.S. "Deeply Concerned" about Russian Assistance to Iran

(State responds to question on Russian assistance on nuclear plant)
(380)
The United States is "deeply concerned that Russian entities continue
to provide important assistance to Iran's weapons of mass destruction
and missile delivery programs," the State Department said October 23.
"If the Russians end their sensitive cooperation with Iran, we have
indicated we would be prepared to favorably consider" transfers to
Russia for storage of spent reactor fuel currently held by third
countries, "an arrangement potentially worth over $10 billion [$10,000
million] to Moscow."
This statement was posted October 23 as an answer to a question taken
at the previous day's regular State Department press briefing.
Following is the text:
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE 
Office of the Spokesman 
October 23, 2002
Taken Question from October 22, 2002 Daily Press Briefing
RUSSIA-IRAN INCENTIVES
Question: What can we say about reports that we have offered economic
incentives to Russia in return for their stopping work on the nuclear
reactor in Iran and Bushehr?
Answer: Iran is aggressively pursuing nuclear weapons, as well as
other weapons of mass destruction, long-range missiles and advanced
conventional weapons. The U.S. position is clear: a weapons of mass
destruction-armed Iran would be a major threat, to Russia as well as
to the United States and our friends and allies in the region.
We are deeply concerned that Russian entities continue to provide
important assistance to Iran's weapons of mass destruction and missile
delivery programs. President Putin has said that he shares our
concerns but the Russians have denied that they are helping Iran with
its weapons of mass destruction and missile programs.
We will continue to intensively work this issue closely at senior
levels with Russia.
An end to Russian proliferation to Iran would allow the United States
and Russia to reap the full promise of our new strategic relationship.
That would benefit Russia economically, politically and strategically
far more than any short-term gain from sensitive transfers to Iran.
One example is the potential transfer to Russia for storage of spent
reactor fuel currently held by third countries, much of which requires
U.S. approval for such transfer because the US originally supplied the
fresh fuel to those countries. If the Russians end their sensitive
cooperation with Iran, we have indicated we would be prepared to
favorably consider such transfers, an arrangement potentially worth
over $10 billion [$10,000 million] to Moscow.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)