Iran and Russia Pushing Ahead

According to the chief of Russia's Federal Agency for Atomic Power, Aleksandr Rumyantsev, Russia's plans regarding the Iranian nuclear power programme remained unchanged, despite the ongoing reorganization of the Atomic Energy Ministry. "Technical cooperation with Iran in nuclear power plant construction in Bushehr will go on," he said. "I see no causes that might restrict our cooperation." Rumyantsev made these comments in the backdrop of plans for a second nuclear station in Iran.

In addition to continued cooperation, a supplementary protocol on the repatriation of spent nuclear fuel from Bushehr to Russia "will be signed soon".

Rumyantsev said signing of the protocol had been delayed against a background of "certain financial aspects".

"Iran has asked for several months to study the technology of handling spent nuclear waste," Rumyantsev said, adding that "Iran had repeatedly confirmed the readiness to sign the protocol."