Foreign Correspondence

[otraque]

Russia will help Iran despite nuclear moves
Staff and agencies
02 August, 2005

http://www.leadingthecharge.com/stories/news-0053887.html



51 minutes ago

MOSCOW - Russia will maintain support for Iran's nuclear program despite Tehran's decision to restart the enrichment of uranium, Russian news agencies quoted sources in Russia's atomic agency, Rosatom, as saying on Tuesday.

"We always stressed Iran's right to develop its nuclearfuel cycle, though we at the same time urge countries not possessing the cycle to refrain from developing it," Interfaxand RIA Novosti agencies quoted a Rosatom source as saying.

A spokesman for Rosatom did not comment on the specific situation, but repeated Russia's position that Iran has a rightto the peaceful use of atomic energy.

He said the latest moves, which have sparked a crisis thatcould go to the United Nations Security Council, did notundermine that.

Russia is building a nuclear power station for Iran atBushehr on the Gulf, despite Washington's concern that Tehran could use Russian know-how to build an atomic bomb.

Britain, France and Germany have been trying to broker adeal that would give Iran nuclear, political and economicincentives to halt its enrichment activities.

But Iran has now said it is impatient with the talks, andwants to restart nuclear fuel work -- prompting the Europeanpowers to move closer to the U.S. view that Iran should bereferred to the Security Council for possible sanctions.

The EU trio told Iran on Tuesday that a resumption of itsnuclear activities would end negotiations on the nuclear issueand it would have to pursue "other courses of action."

A spokesman for Rosatom said only a U.N. resolution or adecision by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) couldprovide the legal basis for Russia to break its contracts andstop working with Iran.

"It goes without saying that we would fulfill those,"Nikolai Shingaryov said.

Russia sees Iran as a key market for its atomic technology,and has previously said it is keen to expand their partnershipwith more lucrative power stations.




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