Iran tops agenda of US-Russia talks

Iran tops agenda of U.S.-Russia talks
Moscow |Reuters | Gulf News 31-07-2002

Two senior U.S. officials arrive in Moscow yesterday, but their talks on a $20 billion deal to keep Soviet-era nuclear material safe from extremists could be overshadowed by Russia's blooming nuclear ties with Iran.

Russia's plans to boost long-term cooperation with Tehran are expected to feature prominently in meetings between Energy Secretary Spencer Abrahams, Undersecretary of State John Bolton and a raft of senior Russian officials.

Topping their concerns when meetings get under way on Wednesday will be government plans outlined last week to construct up to six reactors in Iran, on top of an $800 million station already under construction at Bushehr.

Washington has branded Iran as part of an "Axis of Evil" which will use civilian nuclear schemes to develop atomic weapons.

Israel views the Bushehr facility as a threat to its security, as Iran does not recognise its existence as a state, though Israeli experts rule out a military strike any time soon.

However, after mulling the issue over the weekend, the White House played down the Russia-Iran blueprint on Monday, even though the Bushehr facility was a major bone of contention at a Moscow summit in May.

Spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters that Presidents George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin had agreed in Moscow to work to prevent nuclear proliferation.

Putin's stalwart support of the U.S. "war on terrorism" after the September 11 airliner attacks prompted unparalleled bilateral security cooperation, a new nuclear arms reduction treaty and talk of greater trade, and earned Russia a permanent place in the elite G8 club of nations.

G8 leaders promised at their June summit in Canada some $20 billion over 10 years to help Russia dismantle weapons of mass destruction, part of a campaign to prevent extremists from obtaining raw materials for a nuclear bomb.

But Moscow's relations with Tehran, which include increased sales of potent Russian conventional weapons and work on oil and gas projects, could complicate efforts to put the landmark programme into effect.

Influential U.S. analysts this month sought to neutralise the row by proposing Washington accept Moscow's closer collaboration with Tehran in exchange for tougher verification of Iranian nuclear projects.

That included restricting future reactor construction to Bushehr, Iran's acceptance of intrusive inspections, giving up other nuclear activities and re-exporting spent fuel to Russia.

"The problem here is the West, and specifically the United States, has used too much black paint on Iran with the 'Axis of Evil', so now they have to downplay this picture to be able to start thinking constructively," said Boris Makarenko, deputy director of Moscow's Centre for Political Technologies.

"What we really want to know is how big the differences are and whether both sides will allow this divisive issue to spoil their relationship or whether they will be wise enough to continue and not pay undue attention to this issue."

Abrahams and Bolton are due to meet Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev, the Russian cabinet's leading lobbyist for nuclear power sales to Iran.

Other meetings are scheduled with Yuri Koptev, one of Russia's top missile experts, and Industry Minister Ilya Klebanov, whose brief includes the defence sector.