Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=5/15/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=POWELL/IRAN (S-O)

NUMBER=2-303246

BYLINE=LISA MCADAMS

DATELINE= MOSCOW

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Secretary of State Colin Powell says Washington has no plans to take military action against Iran, despite continued concerns that Tehran could be trying to develop weapons of mass destruction. V-O-A's Lisa McAdams in Moscow reports.

TEXT: Secretary Powell told Echo Moscow radio that the United States is concerned about Iran's nuclear program, but remains determined to work with the international community to persuade Iran to move in, what he called, a peaceful direction.

The United States has been pressing Russia to end its support of Iran's nuclear program, fearing the expertise and material offered by Moscow could be used to develop weapons of mass destruction.

Officials in Russia and Iran say their cooperation is for peaceful purposes only.

But Wednesday, as Secretary Powell ended two-days of discussions in Moscow that included the Iran issue, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Mamedov urged Tehran to sign a protocol placing all its nuclear facilities under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Mr. Mamedov said Russia shares the United States' concerns, and does not want to see Iran develop nuclear weapons. (SIGNED)

NEB/LAM/AWP/RAE/TW