VIENNA, September 18 (RIA Novosti) - There are no political constraints to completing the Bushehr nuclear power project in Iran, the director of the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency Sergei Kiriyenko said Tuesday.
Speaking after a meeting with Iranian Vice President Gholam Reza Aghazadeh, Kiriyenko said, "I have discussed the construction of the Bushehr NPP with Aghazadeh. Taking into account the fact that Russia and Iran have signed an agreement according to which all fuel for the NPP will be produced in Russia, while spent nuclear fuel will be returned to Russia, the Bushehr NPP will pose no threat to the non-proliferation regime. There are no and should be no political impediments to completing the Bushehr NPP."
The Iranian Vice President, who heads the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), arrived in Vienna Monday to participate in the 51st session of the General Conference of the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Kiriyenko also said they had discussed measures to ensure an early completion of Iran's first nuclear power plant.
"I am satisfied with the outcome of the meeting," he added.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said earlier that nuclear fuel for the Bushehr NPP is ready and sealed by IAEA experts, but a Russian delegation source said the procedure had yet to be completed.
Russian nuclear equipment export monopoly Atomstroyexport has been building Iran's first nuclear power plant despite opposition from Western countries and amid international concerns that the Islamic Republic is pursuing a covert nuclear weapons program.
The plant's construction has faced repeated delays, with Russia accusing Iran of missing payment deadlines. Iran denies any funding problems, and has accused Russia of delaying tactics.
Iran recently intensified cooperation with the IAEA, and invited weapons inspectors to visit a 40-MW heavy water reactor in Arak in late July.
Iran has defied three consecutive UN resolutions against its nuclear program since last year. The six countries negotiating the dispute - the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany - have demanded that Tehran suspend all uranium enrichment before negotiating a solution to the dispute.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced in early April the start of uranium enrichment on an industrial scale.
