• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Russia defies US pressures to halt cooperation with Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Moscow, Feb 17, IRNA -- Russia will never yield to US pressures to 
stop nuclear cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran, said a 
Russian atomic energy official here Tuesday. 
Spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Nuclear Energy Nikolai 
Shingariev told IRNA "we have always stressed that there is no 
evidence of Iran`s attempts to build atomic weapon." 
His remarks were in response to claims raised by some US 
authorities that Iran is seeking to acquire nuclear material for 
making nuclear bombs. 
He underlined "Iran`s stance, given its signing up to the 
additional protocol to Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as well as its 
close cooperation with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is 
quite clear." 
Turning to US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage`s 
remarks on Bushehr power plant, he said "we have repeatedly announced 
that Russia`s activities in Bushehr plant are quite clear. So, we are 
ready to respond to any questions in this regard." 
He added "if our American partners have some questions over 
Bushehr power plant, they may raise their questions directly to 
receive appropriate response." 
US Under-Secretary of State Richard Armitage said last week 
Iran is still seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, despite commitments 
made to the international community. 
Iran has always denied trying to make a nuclear bomb, saying its 
nuclear program is simply intended for generating electricity. 
Russia`s activities in Bushehr power plant are in compliance with 
the UN atomic watchdog regulations and it does not help the 
country proliferate atomic weapons, said the Russian official. 
He further said that Russia`s cooperation with Iran and presence 
of IAEA inspectors in Iran would further strength NPT. 
Turning to US President George W. Bush`s claims that some 
countries have the potential to exploit a nuclear peaceful program 
to make atomic bomb, he said "each country should come under 
investigation separately." 
He stressed "I cannot express my point of view over other 
countries` nuclear activities. But it is clear that IAEA is considered
as a reliable organization to supervise nuclear activities and it has 
the right to control all nuclear-related issues." 
Asked if he thought the trend of Iran-Russia nuclear cooperation 
is progressing at present, the official said "our cooperation is 
fruitful", adding construction work on the first phase of the Bushehr 
power plant continues, and economic and technical studies on its 
second phase are under way." 
He further said that if Iran is determined to construct the second
phase, Russia is ready to cooperate. 
The two countries are going to cooperate in field of using nuclear
technology in medical and scientific researches and an 
intergovernmental joint commission is reviewing such cooperation, 
added Shingariev. 
He reiterated that Russia will continue mutual cooperation with 
Iran as long as no international decision is taken against such 
cooperation. 
The Russian official stressed that his country has defied US 
pressures to halt its nuclear cooperation with Iran. 
Regarding upcoming visit by a Russian atomic energy delegation , 
headed by Minister of Nuclear Energy Alexandr Rumyantsev, to Iran, he 
said that the visit will certainly take place. 
He stressed that the said delegation will visit Iran to study 
cooperation with Iran. 
MS/212 
End