A space shot of Bushehr construction site
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U.S. Sees Russia’s Position on Bushehr Its Own Success
The U.S. Department of State has hailed Russia’s decision to halt nuclear fuel deliveries to Bushehr reactor. According to Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns, Russia’s position on Bushehr signaled the U.S. diplomatic efforts to increase pressure on Iran were making progress, Reuters reported.
”Russia’s actions over the last week have been very important. It is our appreciation that the Russian government doesn’t want to see Iran get nuclear weapons,” Reuters quoted Burns as saying.
On March 21, however, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denied the reports of Europe’s and U.S. media that the Kremlin halted deliveries to Bushehr nuclear plant until Iran agreed to freeze enrichment. Lavrov said Russia suspended deliveries in full conformity with international obligations and its actions are under the permanent control of IAEA. The reports were “the backstairs methods” aimed, perhaps, at causing a quarrel between Iran and Russia, Lavrov pointed out.
The clashes of Russia and Iran about completing construction of Bushehr nuclear plant began in February of 2007. Russia’s Federal Atomic Energy Agency, Rosatom, announced the deliveries of nuclear fuel could be delayed as Iran breached the payment dates, having actually stopped funding the project in the middle of January. In the fourth quarter of 2006, Tehran failed to pay around 40 percent of the amount due to Atomstroiexport, which is the Russian contractor for Bushehr project, the sources said off-the-record.
Afterwards, Atomstroiexport announced that Bushehr nuclear plant would be hardly put into operation in line with the schedule, i.e. in September 2007. In Atomstroiexport, they said they were unable to start fuel deliveries in March but the work on Bushehr site continues in scope that is the maximum possible without financing.
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