Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) Gholam-Reza Aqazadeh says he hopes the Russians will not politicize the Bushehr nuclear power plant project.

"We know that the Bushehr project has turned into a political issue and there are speculations about another resolution against Iran," he said, adding, "Each country that gets involved in Iran's nuclear issue is looking for its own interest."

Aqazadeh denied that Iran had agreed to pay extra to the Russian contractor, Atomstroiexport Company, ahead of its due time.

The company had already changed 8 managers, and parts of the money it received for the Bushehr project had not been spent in the right place, causing a lack of liquidity in the company, he added.

"We have always paid them (Russians) ahead of time. We have never had any debt to them. They know it," Aqazadeh stressed, adding, "They only asked us to help them overcome their financial problem so that they could inaugurate the project."

He further voiced concern over the delay in the project, adding that negotiations were continuing to allay any concerns.

"Both sides need to hold meetings every now and then to discuss the project," he said, adding that Iran had accepted to resolve the liquidity problem of the Russian partner, although Tehran was not obliged to do so."

Asked whether those Russian employees who left the plant had returned, he said some 2,000 Russians were currently working on the project, and none had left.

Responding to a question over the state of cooperation between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran, Aqazadeh asserted that Iran's cooperation with the IAEA are ongoing in a number of levels.

"Cooperation between Iran and the IAEA still continues on 40 projects," he said, adding, "We have three types of cooperation with the agency which include technical cooperation, including security issues related to the Bushehr power plant, as well as regional and general cooperation."

The IAEA in the recent Board of Governors' meeting decided to cease general and scientific cooperation with Iran, including participation in regional scientific conferences, Aqazadeh added.

Underlining Tehran's displeasure with the IAEA decision, the Iranian official said such measures could in turn affect the country's relations with the agency.


MB/AVA