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Russia says nuclear work with Iran poses no threat

A nuclear power station being built by Russia in Iran presents no threat, Moscow's top nuclear official said in Bishkek yesterday following a US demand for the project to be shut down.

"The building of the Bushehr nuclear power station does not threaten the non-proliferation regime," Rosatom nuclear agency head Sergei Kiriyenko told journalists in the Kyrgyz capital.

US Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns said during a visit to Moscow yesterday that "it is important for countries to stop cooperation with Iran on nuclear issues, even on civilian nuclear issues like the Bushehr facility."

Burns made clear that he was talking about various countries' work with Iran's nuclear industry. However, Russia is Iran's biggest nuclear partner and is building the country's first atomic power station at Bushehr.

According to the US and other Western powers, Iran is using its civilian program to hide a secret military project, something Tehran insists is untrue.

"A number of countries are continuing to permit the export of dual-use materials that could be used, and we think in some cases are being used, to help the growth of Iran's nuclear industry," Burns said.

"It is the view of my government that it would be appropriate now for those individual governments to stop that practice and no longer permit it," he said.
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