Russia Criticises Iran

"We don't approve of Iran's permanent demonstration of its intentions to develop its rocket sector and continue to enrich uranium," Mr Lavrov said. Mr Lavrov said Iran should refrain from raising international tensions.

Iran has been trying to develop the nuclear fuel capabilities and earlier this month fired a rocket into space. "It's impossible to ignore the fact that problems with Iran's nuclear programme have arisen in recent years," Mr Lavrov was quoted by Russia's Interfax news agency as saying.

"While they haven't been resolved it would be better to refrain from actions that raise tensions and create the impression Iran is ignoring the international community," he said. Mr Lavrov was speaking as he travelled back from an EU-Russia meeting in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

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So Russia disagrees with Iran trying to "show off" their nuclear rockets. I find this entire situation extremely humorous. I don't know what Russia was thinking when THEY sold Iran Uranium. Of course I guess you could say they thought they were using it for peaceful purposes. However, either Russia is extremely blind, or they are trying to cover up for their mistakes.

This could be a way of mending some relations with the West, by appearing to care about Iran's nuclear problems. I seriously doubt it though. There is no way that Russia will get away with saying they knew nothing about Iran's missile program. This recent stance on the issue will not clear their name from creating the problem.

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Coincidence?

A senior Russian diplomat says Iran's test launch of a rocket earlier this week has raised "suspicions" about the country's nuclear program.

Russian news agencies quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov Wednesday as saying long-range rockets are one of the components of a nuclear weapons program.

Iran inaugurated its first major space center Monday and launched a new rocket capable of carrying a first domestic-built satellite into orbit.

Iran has been pursuing a space program for several years. It says it wants to launch satellites for research and telecommunications.

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The Russian agencies are now suspicious of the activities involving rockets, but there was not much suspicion when they sent them 8 loads of uranium. This is a rather large coincidence that the Russian government sent Iran Uranium and Iran is now testing rockets. Iran says that this is just an extension of their space program, but only time can tell their true intentions of having rockets and nuclear material.

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Affordable, Accessible, Attainable Uranium: Russia

The eighth and final batch of Russian nuclear fuel, which is necessary for the initial stage of operation of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, was delivered to its construction site, Itar-Tass quoted the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) as saying.

The shipment of 8.6 metric tons of uranium fuel completed Russia's promised nuclear fuel deliveries to the Bushehr power plant, which is located in southwestern Iran.

So far, all fuel necessary for the initial stage as well as all necessary equipment has been delivered to Iran, the AEOI said in a communique.

"The total amount of supplies has made up 82 tons of nuclear fuel enriched to 1.6-3.6 percent (235U)," said the communique.

"Supplies were made with adherence to all safety demands," it added.

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As indicated in an earlier post Iran has been receiving shipments of Uranium from Russia. As of yesterday all of the necessary fuel to complete the power plant under construction has been delivered. It is still said that all safety requirements are being met and that the Uranium is strictly for the power plant, but only time will tell...

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Against New Iran Sanctions

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the draft agreed on Tuesday did not require tough new measures against Tehran. But it does call for countries to be vigilant in their trade with Iran, Mr Lavrov said. Diplomats said on Tuesday the draft agreed by the foreign ministers of the five permanent Security Council members and Germany would impose new sanctions.

Mr Lavrov stressed the draft resolution did not mention strict sanctions, but would call on "countries to be vigilant in developing trade, economic, transport and other relations with Iran so that these relations are not used to transfer illegal, banned materials that can be used in nuclear affairs".

"For as long as the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) has unresolved issues regarding Iran, these restrictions will remain in force," he said.

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I find it extremely interesting that Russia is putting so much emphasis on the fact that no true sanctions are necessary, and only regulations on nuclear materials should be initiated. Russia has made it extremely evident that they disagree with any "sanction" on Iran, but they supposedly will support the move to stop the nuclear materials from entering Iran.

With all the protection from Russia i seriously doubt that the "regulations" will do much good. This will probably effect Iran very little if at all. With Russia protecting them, there are little peaceful things we can do.

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Russia: Your one stop shop for nuclear fuel

Iran received a sixth shipment of nuclear fuel Thursday from Russia, destined for a power plant being constructed in the southern port of Bushehr, the official IRNA news agency reported.

The report said the 11-ton load of enriched uranium arrived in Iran and was transferred to the light-water Bushehr nuclear power plant on Thursday morning. The remainder of the fuel will arrive in two separate shipments in the coming weeks, it said.

Iran received the fifth shipment of nuclear fuel from Russia on Tuesday. The first shipment arrived on December 17 after months of dispute between the two countries, allegedly over delayed construction payments for the reactor.

Iran has said Bushehr, the country's first nuclear reactor, will begin operating in the summer of 2008, producing half its 1,000-megawatt capacity of electricity.

Russia's decision to ship nuclear fuel to Iran follows a US intelligence report released last month that concluded Tehran had stopped its nuclear weapons program in late 2003 and had not resumed it since. Iran says it never had a weapons programme.

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This report of Iran's reception of their nuclear material raises many questions. Why did they chose Russia to buy Uranium for, and is Iran really using it to make a power plant or are there other intentions. If it turns out that the power plant is a cover up it will mean much trouble for Iran and Russia alike.

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