Special Report: Iran Nuclear Crisis

    MOSCOW, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Russia and Iran have reached an agreement on the Bushehr nuclear power station in Iran.

    "We have resolved all the problems with the Iranians," said Sergei Shmatko, president of Russian state contractor Atomstroiexport, on Thursday.

    "We have agreed on the construction schedule. I shall define it more precisely at the end of December," Shmatko was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.

    The first nuclear power station in Iran, Bushehr had been expected to start operation this past September, but the start-up has been delayed and the project remains under construction due toa dispute between Russian contractors and Iran over the terms of payment.

    Nuclear fuel will be supplied to the site half a year before the need arises, he said.

    "The completion of the Bushehr nuclear power plant is among the most important criteria for maintaining normal dialogue with Iran on the nuclear problem," the Interfax news agency quoted Shmatko as saying.

    During an inspection in late November, experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Russian nuclear specialists checked and sealed nuclear fuel containers for delivery to Iran at a Siberian chemical plant.

    The Novosibirsk chemical concentrates plant has produced 100 tonnes of fuel for the Bushehr nuclear power station, but the plant's officials did not disclose the date of dispatch.

Russian FM rejects U.S. call for further sanctions against Iran

    BRUSSELS, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed a call by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for further U.N. sanctions on Iran concerning its ambitious nuclear program.