US Worried by Russian Plans to Build New Nuclear Power Stations in Iran

The US is concerned by Russian plans to build new nuclear power stations in Iran, announced US Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham today at a press conference in Moscow. He said that the issue of constructing nuclear power stations in Iran 'has been raised to the level of US-Russian relations'. Abraham refused to comment on his statement in any more detail, although he admitted that 'the US is worried by Iran's desire to build nuclear power stations when it has significant energy reserves'.

This statement from the US was in response to a resolution published last Friday by the Russian Government on a long-term programme of collaboration between Russia and Iran. As well as completion of the current nuclear reactor in Busher, the programme envisages equipping this facility with a further three reactors, and also outlines plans for a new nuclear power station with two reactors in Akhvaz.