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Russia wants to complete Iran nuclear plant swiftly | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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MOSCOW,(Reuters) – Russia wants to complete building a nuclear power station in Iran as soon as possible, the country’s top nuclear official said on Saturday, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

Sergei Kiriyenko, head of Russia’s atomic energy agency Rosatom, said during a visit to Tehran that the civilian nuclear plant at Bushehr in Iran would be launched as fast as possible.

“We don’t see any political obstacles to completing Bushehr and we are interested in it (the station) being launched in the swiftest possible period,” Kiriyenko said, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

Iran’s nuclear aspirations have provoked a diplomatic crisis and Tehran faces possible sanctions if referred to the United Nations Security Council.

Iran recently resumed atomic fuel research and enrichment but insists it is only interested in atomic power for civilian use.

The United States and the European Union suspect Iran’s programme is aimed at making atomic weapons.

Russia has sought to play a major role in the diplomatic game by offering to enrich the uranium Iran needs for nuclear power stations on Russian soil.

Russia’s building of the nuclear plant at Bushehr has long provoked objections from U.S. officials who fear Iran could use the technology for developing weapons.

Moscow says Iran has a right to civilian atomic energy and brushes aside criticism of the contract, which is worth around $1 billion.