Iran must resume Bushehr payments to ensure Sept launch:Russia

Moscow, Mar 13 (UNI) Russia today warned that the power unit at the Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant will not be commissioned as scheduled unless Iran resumed the payments stipulated in bilateral contracts.

''Russia's policy today is practical, the prestige of the nation and business loyalty cost money. So if the Iranian side does not resume financing, the power unit is unlikely to be commissioned in September,''chairman of the Federation Council (Upper House) International Affairs Standing Committee Mikhail Margelov told Interfax news agency.

''Should this be the case, then Russian nuclear fuel will not be delivered either,''Margelov said emphatically.

Meanwhile, as Russia's Atomstroiexport and Iran's Atomic Energy Organization continued negotiations on completing the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Tehran today, a spokesman for the Russian company said here the financing of the Bushehr power plant had not been resumed.

''The talks have entered the second day. Experts are assessing the situation and discussing proposals put forward by the Iranian side,'' he said.

Commenting on the financial stand off between Moscow and Tehran, President of the Moscow-based Politics Foundation think-tank Vyacheslav Nikonov said Russia may back tougher sanctions against Iran in a vote on a new UN Security Council resolution.

Nikonov said Russia had adhered to a gradual line within the framework of the Iranian nuclear problem.

He said Moscow initially called for the issue to be resolved through political means within the framework of UN Security Council decisions, stating the necessity of Tehran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

''Tehran has since ignored a UN Security Council resolution backed by Russia, resorting to the most offensive rhetoric, which was addressed toward our country as well,'' Nikonov said.

UNI