Iran atomic plant will be build on time: Kiriyenko

Moscow, Jan 28: Russia is committed to completing the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran on time, the Atomic Energy Agency chief was quoted by RIA news agency today.

''Russia is carrying out its contract to build the nuclear power plant under the existing schedule,'' Sergei Kiriyenko, now on a visit to Iran, said during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, according to RIA.

''If there are no problems ... with financing the project or delivering equipment from the third countries, we see no problems or complications in fulfilling the construction schedule on time,'' he added.

Kiriyenko did not elaborate.

Moscow announced last September that nuclear fuel would be delivered to Bushehr in March 2007, the reactor would start up in September and that electricity generated from it would be sent to a power grid in November.

But Russia is under pressure from the United States to stop building the nuclear plant for Iran, suspected by the West of seeking to obtain nuclear weapons. Washington suspects Iran will use the Russian atomic know-how to make bombs.

Iran says its nuclear programme is meant solely to produce electricity.

REUTERS

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