Russia, Iran negotiate on Bushehr nuclear plant financing

Russia, Iran negotiate on Bushehr nuclear plant financing

	Published : Wed, 07 Mar 2007 14:46 By : Agencies Print this Story

MOSCOW (AFX) - Russian nuclear contractor Atomstroiexport held talks with Iranian officials today over what Moscow said are delays by Tehran in paying for construction of a controversial nuclear power station being built at Bushehr, Iran.

'The main aim of today's meeting is to discuss the crisis situation connected with the lack of financing from Iran for the project,' Atomstroiexport said in a statement.

Company chairman Sergei Shmatkomet met with the deputy chairman of Iran's nuclear energy agency, Mohammad Saidi, it added.

Atomstroiexport said it cannot send the necessary technicians to complete work on the power station because of late payments. Fuel deliveries for the station will also be delayed, the company said.

But Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki denied Iran had been late with payments, telling reporters: 'The Islamic republic is ahead of the agreed sum in its payments. There is no financial problem between Iran and Russia.'

Under a deal agreed in September, Russia was to deliver fuel to Iran in March, the power station was to begin working in September and it was to start producing energy in November.

While Russia insists the dispute is financial, it comes amid mounting international pressure on Iran to suspend its nuclear programme.

The US has accused Iran of clandestinely seeking nuclear weapons and has urged Moscow to suspend work at Bushehr. While Russia has not publicly agreed to this request, it has repeatedly postponed the completion date.

Tehran insists its nuclear programme is only aimed at civilian energy generation.

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