Iran's nuke plans go ahead
2004-09-12 16:33
Dushanbe - Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said here on Sunday that the country was pushing ahead with nuclear co-operation with Russia despite protests from the West.
The nuclear reactor in the southern town of Bushehr would go ahead despite resistance from the United States and Israel, he said during a visit to the former Soviet republic of Tajikistan.
"Thankfully, despite all the pressure that is being put on Russia from all sides - including that from the United States - Russia has bravely declared that it is ready to co-operate with Iran," Khatami told reporters.
"We feel that our co-operation strengthens the whole region, makes it more stable," he said.
His comments came amid apparent efforts by Russian officials to slow down the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant amid Western worries over the project.
At the earliest, the plant's launch has been delayed until next year.
Khatami arrived in Tajikistan for talks over a $400m project to complete a hydro-electric power station that was launched 15 years ago, but was never completed.