Russia delays work on Iran nuclear plant-source

MOSCOW, Feb 19 (Reuters) Russia will delay construction work at Iran's Bushehr nuclear reactor because Iran is behind with its payments, a source in Russia's nuclear agency said today.

The source in Rosatom told Reuters it was ''obvious that the timetable on building the plant will need to be corrected'' because Tehran had not made payments for the work for more than a month.

Iranian officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Russia has been building Iran's first nuclear plant, known as Bushehr, since the early 1990s. It has delayed work several times, citing technical reasons, as the project has become politically sensitive since Iran came under Western pressure over its nuclear ambitions.

Moscow is due to start nuclear fuel deliveries for the plant in March this year, paving the way for the reactor's planned start-up in September.

It was unclear by how long the project would now be delayed.

The United States, which suspects Iran of trying to obtain nuclear weapons, wants Russia to stop building the Bushehr nuclear plant altogether.

Iran and Russia say the power plant is meant solely to produce electricity.

REUTERS AKJ RK1710