Russia-Iran nuclear cooperation depends on Iran-IAEA relations: Russian official

Iran's relations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will have an important bearing on the country's future nuclear cooperation for peaceful uses with Russia, a senior Russian official said Wednesday, Itar-Tass reported.

Alexander Rumyantsev, chief of the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom), said during an internet conference that Russia's cooperation with Iran over the peaceful use of nuclear power "will depend on that country's relations with the IAEA and the international community."

However, he did not rule out that Russia might take part in theconstruction of more nuclear power units in Iran, said the report.

"Iran two years ago declared the intention to build another sixreactors and there is a possibility they will be eventually included in our contract portfolio," Rumyantsev said.

He said the first reactor project in Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant will be finished at the end of 2006 as agreed by the two sides.

Rumyantsev also said there were no fundamental obstacles to the conclusion of a supplementary protocol requiring Iran to return spent nuclear fuel to Russia.

Russia has pledged to accept spent nuclear fuel for storage and recycling and Iran has promised to return the fuel, he said.

Source: Xinhua