Russia sticks with Iran

[Dover]

Russia sticks with Iran
By Sergei Blagov

MOSCOW - Russia has indicated that an agreement on delivering nuclear fuel rods - which can be used to obtain plutonium - could be finalized this year. Last week, the head of Russia's nuclear energy agency, Alexander Rumyantsev, told the Iranian ambassador to Russia that the deal on the return of spent rods to Russia could be clinched during his upcoming trip to Tehran, tentatively set for October.

This agreement was reported as close to being signed last September, but nothing happened. The deal would open the way for Russia's nuclear supplies to Iran. Moreover, in October, Russia and Iran are expected to sign a protocol of intent on the construction of Bushehr-2 reactor, according to Russian media reports.

Russia has said it would freeze construction on the US$1 billion Bushehr nuclear plant and would not begin delivering fuel rods for the reactor until Iran signed an agreement that would oblige it to return all of the spent fuel to Russia for reprocessing and storage. Sending the spent fuel out of the country would ensure that Iran could not reprocess it into material that could be used in nuclear weapons. ...cont'd

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/FG27Ag01.html

[shraby]

1. Russia probably has misgivings about

U.S. intentions since we invaded 2 countries and know Russia is relatively weak, therefore it is strengthening it's position by working with other countries like Iran which probably has nuke capacity.