Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Bushehr nuclear power plant gigantic test for Tehran, Moscow: MP

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, March 14, IRNA
Iran-Russia-Majlis
Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission rapporteur Kazem Jalali said on Tuesday that the issue of Russia's completion of the Bushehr nuclear power plant was a "gigantic test" of Tehran-Moscow ties.

Commenting on his meeting Tuesday with Russian Ambassador to Tehran Alexander Sadornikov, the MP told reporters that the two discussed issues related to the completion of the 1,000-megawatt power plant currently on the final stage of construction by a Russian company in southern Iran.

"This is a gigantic test for Iran-Russia ties and could be a turning point in bilateral relations if Moscow is able to abide by its commitments," Jalali said.

He added that Sadornikov would echo the viewpoints and reactions of the Iranian Majlis on this issue to Russian officials.

The ambassador also said that the Russian company was facing "certain pressures," including financial obligations, as well as the problem of obtaining certain equipment to be used in the power plant from other countries.

According to Jalali, Sadornikov assured that Moscow was committed to its obligations despite those pressures.

As for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's plan to attend the United Nations Security Council's session in late March, the MP said that his attendance would be significant should all conditions be met for him to travel to New York.

The president has expressed a desire to attend the UN Security Council's next session this month to defend Iran's nuclear right.

"Iran has the right to send officials to the session called to discuss bilateral or multilateral issues among its members in order to take up an issue which is paramount to the country," said the MP.

He added that if the president was to attend the session, it should be one held at the foreign ministerial level.

Jalali said that a desired outcome of President Ahmadinejad's presence in the session would to prevent a consensus in the Security Council on the draft resolution against Iran.

His presence should as a whole prevent adoption of any resolution against Iran similar to the Security Council's Resolution 1737 imposing sanctions on Iran, the MP said.

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