Iran, Russia Vow to Complete Nuclear Power Plant

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 24, 2002

Iran, Russia Vow to Complete Nuclear Power Plant

Iran's Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Monday refuted recent US allegations about Iran's nuclear program as "mere pretexts."

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Iran's Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Monday refuted recent US allegations about Iran's nuclear program as "mere pretexts."

Rafsanjani told visiting Russian Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev that Iran is a member to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the agency is fully aware of all of Iran's nuclear activities.

"The use of all forms of nuclear technology for peaceful purposeis the absolute right of all the IAEA members, including Iran," said Rafsanjani.

The former Iranian president pointed out that Iran's drive for establishment of the plant for scientific and peaceful purposes are currently questioned under various "baseless" pretexts, because Iran is independent and cooperates with Russia instead of the West in the Bushehr plant.

Despite continued US propaganda, the world will come to witness peaceful cooperation between Iran and Russia in future for non-military use of atomic energy, Rafsanjani said.

Washington has voiced its suspicion that Iran may use the Bushehr plant for developing nuclear arms. Both Iran and Russia have rejected the US allegations.

On his part, Rumyantsev reiterated that the Iran-Russia cooperation in the field of nuclear energy was peaceful and within the framework of international regulations.

He said Moscow is determined to complete the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant.

"Although Russia and Iran are criticized by certain countries for construction of an atomic power plant, we consider ourselves duty bond to finish the project on the power plant which is considered as Iran's undeniable right," said the Russian minister.

He stressed that Russia "will not give in to pretexts and ballyhoos created by other countries with regard to the peaceful cooperation."

Rumyantsev arrived in Tehran on Sunday on a four-day visit for talks with Iranian officials on the "speeding up" of the construction of the plant and the Iran-Russia cooperation for peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The Russian minister will travel to Bushehr to observe construction work at the plant. He will also discuss with Iranian officials the issue of returning nuclear fuel waste from Iran to Russia.

Iran, Russia vow to expand cooperation despite US interference

Iranian Majlis (parliament) speaker Mahdi Karrubi said on Monday Iran welcomes broadening cooperation with Russia despite the fact that the United States has always been standing in the way, the official IRNA news agency reported.

During a meeting with visiting Russian Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev, Karrubi lamented that US officials have always criticized and interfered in the cooperation between Iran and Russia, while its "constant unilateral support for Israel has aggravated the international situation."

Karrubi expressed hope that the commissioning of Bushehr nuclear power plant will open a "golden page" in the Iran-Russia economic cooperation and both sides will benefit from the project.

For his part, Rumyantsev noted that the current visit of the Russian delegation is aimed at finalizing the Bushehr project.

"In reply to all the critics directed at Iran-Russia cooperation on atomic energy, we have constantly said such collaboration, which is supervised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is in full accordance with the acceptable international laws," he said.

Rumyantsev arrived here on Sunday on a four-day visit for talks with Iranian officials on the "speeding up" of the construction of the plant and the Iran-Russia bilateral cooperation for peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The Russian minister will travel to Bushehr to observe construction work on the plant. He will also discuss with Iranian officials the issue of returning nuclear fuel waste from Iran to Russia.

Washington has voiced its suspicion that Iran may use the Bushehr plant for developing nuclear arms. Both Iran and Russia have rejected the US allegations.

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