Russia to start Iran nuclear plant by year end - Reuters

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Russia to start Iran nuclear plant by year end
Thu Feb 5, 2009 1:18pm EST

By Denis Dyomkin and Guy Faulconbridge

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia plans to start up a nuclear reactor at
Iran's Bushehr plant by the end of the year, the head of Russia's
state nuclear corporation said on Thursday.

"If there are no unforeseen events...then the launch will go according
to the timetable," Rosatom chief Sergei Kiriyenko told reporters in
the Kremlin.

"The launch is scheduled for this year," he said, adding that this was
the original plan laid down in a timetable agreed with Iran. "I plan to
be at the Bushehr plant in February."

The West, which suspects Iran of seeking to produce its own nuclear
bomb, has been critical of Russia's involvement in Bushehr. Russia says
the plant is purely civilian and cannot be used for any weapons program.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE51448V20090205