Russia Postpones Completing Iranian Nuclear Reactor In Bushehr

[eleny]

A new crisis in Russia-Iran relations
Asia Times
By Kaveh L Afrasiabi

Moscow's decision to postpone the completion of a 1,000-megawatt reactor in Bushehr, Iran, has shocked Tehran and is bound to bring Russia-Iran relations to a crisis point, this at a time when neither country can afford to have such a negative impact on their geostrategic considerations.

According to Grigory Noginsky, chairman of the Federation Council Commission for Nuclear Energy, payments made by Iran for the construction of the plant "were in fact stopped in the beginning of the year. ...." This is nonsense, the Iranians insist, and they have threatened to go public by publishing all the records of Iran's regular payments to the Russian nuclear subcontractors.

The fact that Bushehr is now more than seven years behind schedule translates into serious worries about the future of Iran's power industry. Iran is in dire need of nuclear-generated electricity and the crisis over Bushehr directly translates into a crisis of economic planning in Iran.

The Kremlin's other decision, to offer cooperation with the US in monitoring Iran's missile program through the giant radar stationed in Azerbaijan, has also met criticism by Iranian politicians. ...Russia has bitterly complained against the recent Iran-Turkmenistan-Turkey gas deal, which undermines Russia's energy strategy toward Europe, and the Iranian media have made no secret about the implications of this deal in harming Russia's interests.

A pertinent question is whether or not Russia's still-formidable pool of shared interests with Iran, including the containment of the United States' unipolar hegemony and hopes for a world gas cartel, will act as deterrents against the current deterioration of relations above-mentioned.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/IG28Ak03.html

[MADem]

1. Funny. This ain't the first time this happened!!

I remember a similar imbroglio back in 1979...around the time of the last revolution in beautiful Persia....

[eleny]

2. And I guess we know what * talked about with Pooty up in Maine

[MADem]

3. Poppy probably did the talking.... nt

[eleny]

6. Yah, none of that gazing into each others eyes bullshit

Sounds like they got down to business.

[rockymountaindem]

4. Good

If Russia single-handedly pulls the plug (literally) that will help the rest of the world out a lot by preventing a potential collision between Iran and the UNSC. I understand that Russia and Iran have common interests today, but they do not have a very good history with each other, so I wouldn't be surprised if antagnoism continues.

[eleny]

5. We haven't heard our administration talking about Iran's nuclear quest lately

Just its influence in Iraq. Perhaps this is why.

[BlooInBloo]

7. I never understood why Iran doesn't simply build a few oil refineries...

... and be done with it?