Russia says Bushehr plant anchors Iran into talks

MOSCOW, Aug 28 (Reuters) Russia today defended nuclear cooperation with Iran, saying Moscow's help in building the Bushehr nuclear plant anchored Tehran into talks about its nuclear programme.

Russia's deputy head of the atomic energy agency, Nikolai Spassky, said Moscow's cooperation also helped keep Iran within the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

''Our cooperation with Iran on the construction of the Bushehr power plant represents a very serious anchor which induces Iran to cooperate, to remain within the framework of the non-proliferation Treaty and the IAEA,'' he said.

''You will find no international document whatsoever, be it a UN Security Council Resolution or whatever, prohibiting Russian cooperation in the construction of the Bushehr power plant - period,'' he said.

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