Russia's plans to finish an atomic reactor in Iran are back on track after a pause that followed a tough new resolution on Iran by the UN nuclear watchdog, Russia's top atomic official said on Monday.
Earlier this month, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) passed a resolution that deplored Iran's failure to declare sensitive nuclear technology which could be used to make bomb-grade uranium.
"A certain pause in Russia's co-operation with Iran happened because of an IAEA board meeting where this new resolution on Iran was passed," Alexander Rumyantsev, head of the Atomic Energy Agency, was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency.
"But the question of construction of the Bushehr power plant in Iran has never been revised."
The row between Iran and the IAEA prompted industry insiders to suggest Russia, wary of US criticism of its nuclear ties with Iran, could ditch the $800 million project altogether.
Iran later vowed to continue to co-operate with the IAEA as long as Washington, which accuses Iran of seeking atomic arms, does not push its case up to the UN Security Council.
"Technical co-operation with Iran on construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant is continuing, and I do not see any reason why we should limit this co-operation," Rumyantsev said.
Russia, a veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, has been locked in months of tough talks with Iran over the project.
Comments
Comments are closed.