THE HAGUE, June 28 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will cooperate with Iran in the nuclear area within the present agreements and in the context of nuclear non-proliferation, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in The Hague today.
"I see no reason for changing our cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear power," Lavrov said.
"The same principles will be applied to further cooperation between Russia and Iran in building the Bushehr nuclear plant," said the minister.
Alexander Rumyantsev, the head of the Federal Nuclear Power Agency, had previously said nuclear fuel would be delivered from Russia to Iran in late 2005-early 2006. He added the Bushehr plant, which was built by Russian experts with their Iraqi colleagues on Iran Gulf's coast, would be commissioned in late 2006.
About 100 metric tons of fuel will be delivered to the plant by special flights under the IAEA control.
Spent fuel will be stored in Iran for three-four years in a special pool next to the radiation zone.
"There will be no access to it, as hydrogen reactors provide no access to the radiation zone," said Rumyantsev, adding that fuel would be transported to Russia in shipping packages.
When asked who would run the plant after it is commissioned, the minister said the plant would be used jointly to begin with until the Iranian staff has received enough training, which would take a year or two.
