Yet another beginning to the end...
They will produce nuclear weapons inside of a year. I just hope when they nuke their neighbors, Russia gets some of the fallout.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/12/17/russia.iran/index.html
MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- Russia said Monday it has begun fuel deliveries to an atomic power station in Iran that has been at the center of international concerns over Tehran's nuclear program.
Russia says its fuel can only be used at and for the Bushehr plant.
Atomstroiexport, Russia's nuclear power equipment and service export monopoly, completed the first stage of deliveries Sunday, Russian nuclear officials said.
The Russian monopoly is building the $1-billion Bushehr plant under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Russian foreign ministry and nuclear officials said the fuel delivery was under full IAEA safeguards.
Construction on the Russian-designed nuclear plant has continued despite pressure from the United States.
Iran denies its nuclear program is intended for anything but peaceful purposes.
A statement on the Russian Foreign Ministry's official Web site Monday said the Iranian side has provided additional written guarantees that the fuel can only be used at and for the Bushehr plant, and that the spent fuel will be returned to Russia for utilization and storage.
"The nuclear fuel is being delivered to Iran about six months ahead of the time when it will be actually used for producing energy, as stipulated by technical requirements," the statement read.
The fuel deliveries will be made in several stages over two months, Russian nuclear officials said. The first stage was completed Sunday, officials said, when IAEA-certified fuel containers were delivered to a special storage facility, inspected by the IAEA, at the plant.
Moscow's direct support forIran's nuclear program has aggravated tensions between the United States and Russia.
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The U.N. The Security Council has repeatedly demanded that Iran suspend enrichment of uranium and has imposed limited sanctions on Tehran for refusing to comply. Russia, France, and China -- all permanent Security Council members -- have voiced concerns about the proposed sanctions.
A recent U.S. intelligence summary concluded that, contrary to earlier suspicions, Iran halted its nuclear weapons development in 2003.
The report said Iran stopped work toward a nuclear weapon while under international scrutiny in 2003 and is unlikely to be able to produce enough enriched uranium for a bomb until 2010 to 2015.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hailed the report and declared that Iran is a "peaceful nuclear country."
Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia wants to settle the situation.
"Certainly, we are interested in having all issues surrounding Iran's nuclear program finally settled as early as possible," he said in Moscow after talks with his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki.
This is possible "solely on the basis of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, IAEA rules and principles, and certainly, with Iran proving its right to a peaceful use of nuclear energy," Lavrov said.
Lavrov said there had been some progress in the talks between Iran and the IAEA.
"We encourage further advancement which will allow us to finally take this issue off the international agenda," Lavrov said.
Construction of the plant was expected to be completed in September, Interfax said, but was delayed because of lack of financing and delayed equipment deliveries from other countries.
Atomstroiexport hopes to announce a new date for completing the construction in late December, Interfax said.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/12/17/russia.iran/index.html
MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- Russia said Monday it has begun fuel deliveries to an atomic power station in Iran that has been at the center of international concerns over Tehran's nuclear program.
Russia says its fuel can only be used at and for the Bushehr plant.
Atomstroiexport, Russia's nuclear power equipment and service export monopoly, completed the first stage of deliveries Sunday, Russian nuclear officials said.
The Russian monopoly is building the $1-billion Bushehr plant under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Russian foreign ministry and nuclear officials said the fuel delivery was under full IAEA safeguards.
Construction on the Russian-designed nuclear plant has continued despite pressure from the United States.
Iran denies its nuclear program is intended for anything but peaceful purposes.
A statement on the Russian Foreign Ministry's official Web site Monday said the Iranian side has provided additional written guarantees that the fuel can only be used at and for the Bushehr plant, and that the spent fuel will be returned to Russia for utilization and storage.
"The nuclear fuel is being delivered to Iran about six months ahead of the time when it will be actually used for producing energy, as stipulated by technical requirements," the statement read.
The fuel deliveries will be made in several stages over two months, Russian nuclear officials said. The first stage was completed Sunday, officials said, when IAEA-certified fuel containers were delivered to a special storage facility, inspected by the IAEA, at the plant.
Moscow's direct support forIran's nuclear program has aggravated tensions between the United States and Russia.
Don't Miss
Olmert: Keep pressure on Iran
Iran president calls U.S. report 'a positive step'
Rice: U.S. still wants Iran sanctions
The U.N. The Security Council has repeatedly demanded that Iran suspend enrichment of uranium and has imposed limited sanctions on Tehran for refusing to comply. Russia, France, and China -- all permanent Security Council members -- have voiced concerns about the proposed sanctions.
A recent U.S. intelligence summary concluded that, contrary to earlier suspicions, Iran halted its nuclear weapons development in 2003.
The report said Iran stopped work toward a nuclear weapon while under international scrutiny in 2003 and is unlikely to be able to produce enough enriched uranium for a bomb until 2010 to 2015.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hailed the report and declared that Iran is a "peaceful nuclear country."
Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia wants to settle the situation.
"Certainly, we are interested in having all issues surrounding Iran's nuclear program finally settled as early as possible," he said in Moscow after talks with his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki.
This is possible "solely on the basis of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, IAEA rules and principles, and certainly, with Iran proving its right to a peaceful use of nuclear energy," Lavrov said.
Lavrov said there had been some progress in the talks between Iran and the IAEA.
"We encourage further advancement which will allow us to finally take this issue off the international agenda," Lavrov said.
Construction of the plant was expected to be completed in September, Interfax said, but was delayed because of lack of financing and delayed equipment deliveries from other countries.
Atomstroiexport hopes to announce a new date for completing the construction in late December, Interfax said.
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