Russia, Iran agree on schedule for Bushehr

Russia and Iran have reached agreement on a schedule for completing construction...

Russia and Iran have reached agreement on a schedule for completing construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which plays a central role in the international tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme, an official with the plant’s contractor said on Thursday.

The director of Russian contractor Atomstroiexport, Sergei Shmatko, said details of the timetable would be released later this month, according to Russian news agencies.

The US and other critics have long protested construction of the US$1 billion plant, saying it would give Iran cover for developing a nuclear weapons programme.

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Construction at the plant has been sporadically delayed amid disputes between Iran and Russia over payment, fuel delivery and other issues. But Russia has remained opposed to a US-led push for international sanctions against Iran for allegedly seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

“The difficulties with our Iranian customers have been settled,” Atomstroiexport spokeswoman Irina Yesipova said. She said the Russian and Iranian sides “now share a common view of the timetable for construction of the plant, including the delivery of fuel.”

ITAR-Tass cited Shmatko as saying fuel would be delivered to Iran about six months before the plant launches operations.

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