Russia: Iran Reactor Plan May Change (corrects previous news article title)

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@EARTHLINK.NET>]

Note:



The article title I posted earlier today had an error (the title came 

right off the AP wire .. they stated it was Iraq, when in fact the 

article was on Russia and Iran, reactor deal. Thanks to High Plains 

Drifter who pointed out the title error to me.



Russia: Iran Reactor Plan May Change



MOSCOW (AP) - In an apparent bid to soothe U.S. concerns over 

Moscow's growing cooperation with Iran, Russia's nuclear ministry 

said Friday that an ambitious proposal to build six nuclear reactors 

in Iran was a blueprint and could be subject to change.



The government 10-year plan, which was released a week ago, proposed 

building five more reactors in Iran in addition to the one 

Russia is building at the Iranian port of Bushehr - a deal that has 

drawn strong U.S. criticism.



Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham reaffirmed Thursday that Russia's 

nuclear cooperation with Iran remains an ``utmost'' concern for the 

U.S. administration. ``It has been raised to the highest levels, we 

are in the middle of sensitive discussions on this matter,'' said 

Abraham, who together with Undersecretary of State John Bolton met 

with Russian Nuclear Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev on 

Wednesday.  



Rumyantsev was scheduled to hold a news conference Friday to speak 

about his talks with U.S. officials, but it was abruptly canceled. 

Instead, Rumyantsev's ministry released a terse statement saying that 

the program of cooperation with Iran was not irrevocable.  



The government program ``merely talks about the existing technical 

possibilities,'' the statement read. ``Their implementation will 

depend on many factors, including political.''  



In response to the U.S. accusations that Russia's ties with Iran was 

helping advance its nuclear weapons program, the ministry reaffirmed 

that the nuclear cooperation with Iran was limited to building the 

reactor in Bushehr.  



Since it was signed in 1995, the $800 million deal to build the 1,000 

megawatt pressurized water reactor in Bushehr has remained a top U.S. 

concern. Russia has shrugged off American protests, saying that the 

nuclear plant would only serve civilian purposes and remain under 

international control.  



The controversy over Russia's links with Iran remains a major 

irritant in otherwise warm U.S.-Russian ties, ushered in by Russian 

President Vladimir Putin's support for the U.S. war in Afghanistan 

and other global action against terror after the Sept. 11 attacks.  



***************************************************************

Sandy Perle				Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100  

Director, Technical			Extension 2306 			

ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Service	Fax:(714) 668-3149 	                

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Costa Mesa, CA 92626



Personal Website: http://sandy-travels.com/

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