Russian Defense Minister: 'Iraq scenario' unlikely in Iran

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov doesn't think it possible that 'the Iraq scenario' would repeat itself in Iran. The minister said so as he spoke to the media after the meeting with his Chinese counterpart Cao Gangchuan in Moscow Friday.

When asked about Iran, Ivanov said he "doesn't believe the 'Iraq scenario' is possible there." Speaking about the US' reproachful statements concerning Russia, the minister emphasized yet again that Russia is "strictly abiding by all the existing international agreements." According to Ivanov, all the Russia-Iran cooperation in the nuclear sphere boils down to the construction of a nuclear power plant in Bushehr, which is to be completed soon.

The minister underlined that Iran is "a member of all the international non-proliferation treaties and an IAEA member." Ivanov pointed out that the light-water reactor sold by Russia to Iran is absolutely analogous to the one the United States planned to sell to North Korea.

According to him, "the Bushehr power plant is absolutely open to IAEA inspections." He recalled that IAEA inspectors had repeatedly visited that plant, and their conclusion was that "it was impossible to even hypothetically imagine that plant being used for weapon-related or military purposes."