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Putin remains firm on his nuclear deal with Iran and wants piece of Iraq cake

Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country would condition its nuclear cooperation with Iran on Tehran's openness to the UN nuclear watchdog agency.

In an interview conducted on Friday with Sir David Frost for the BBC's Breakfast with Frost program, Putin also said Moscow would insist that the new Iraqi authorities allow some of Russia's major investment projects to go forward.

"We think it's quite justified in terms of current international law. And let me tell you, we have every reason to count on the support of international legal bodies," Putin said. "I must add that my partners -- both the British prime minister and the US president -- do not deny that Russian firms have the right to take part in the reconstruction of Iraq."

The interview was conducted four days before Putin travels to Britain for the first state visit by a Russian leader since 1874. Putin told Frost that the visit underlined a new, high level of ties between the two countries.

"There has been more trust -- relations have become more pragmatic. They are no longer about ideology. We have become true partners," Putin said.

In spite of their cooperation, he, British Prime Minister Blair and US President George W. Bush still have plenty of disagreements over the means to achieving their goals, Putin said. But they see eye to eye on the problems that need to be tackled, he said.

"We agree about the threats we all face in the 21st century. And this unites us," Putin said in the interview, which was also to be broadcast on BBC World.

He said the proliferation of nuclear weapons was threat No. 1, and pointed to the dangerous situation in South Asia, as well as in North Korea and the Middle East. He said Russia would not, however, curtail its nuclear cooperation with Iran, which the US and other western countries allege is aggressively pursuing a nuclear weapons capability.

Instead, Putin said, Moscow will insist that Tehran provide maximum access to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"We shall develop our relations on nuclear issues -- not only with Iran but with other countries too -- depending on how open they are to that established and respected international organization whose experts we all trust," Putin said.
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