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Russia Reiterates Readiness to Guarantee Nuclear Fuel Supply to Iran

Posted on: Saturday, 4 February 2006, 09:00 CST

Russia reiterates readiness to guarantee nuclear fuel supply to Iran

MOSCOW, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated on Friday his country's readiness to guarantee nuclear fuel supply to Iran if it accepts Moscow's offer to enrich its uranium on Russian soil.

Since the beginning of the European Union's talks with Iran, "Russia has been stating that it guarantees nuclear fuel deliveries not only for the nuclear power plant in Bushehr in line with an interstate accord, but also for any other needs of Iran's peaceful nuclear energy industry," Lavrov said, quoted by the Interfax news agency.

"It is not serious to doubt Russia's desire to assist in solving the Iranian nuclear issue," he said.

Russia is helping Iran build its first nuclear power plant and has proposed that uranium enrichment -- the most sensitive part of the nuclear fuel cycle -- be carried out under a joint venture on the former Soviet republic's soil.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) started an emergency session of its board of governors on Thursday to debate a draft resolution submitted by France, Germany and Britain that called for Iran to be reported to the UN Security Council. The West fears Iran may seek to build an atomic bomb.

Iran, which resumed research on uranium enrichment last month, warned on Thursday it will suspend all voluntary cooperation with the IAEA if its nuclear issue is reported to the U.N. Security Council.

Tehran says its nuclear work is designed merely to meet its energy needs.

Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS

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