topic by
John Calvin
5/24/2002 (20:10) |
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Putin rejects Washington's claims on Iran-Russia nuke cooperation
Moscow, May 24, IRNA -- Russian President Vladimir Putin, talking in
a joint news conference with his visiting US counterpart George W.
Bush in the Kremlin here Friday, rejected Washington's claims that
Moscow's nuclear cooperation with Iran could lead to Tehran's
development of weapons of mass destruction.
'The nuclear cooperation between Iran and Russia does not
undermine the non-proliferation treaty,' Putin said.
'While other world countries are trying to acquire weapons of mass
destruction, I don't understand why all this is said only about Iran,'
he added.
Washington is claiming that Russian assistance to Iran to
construct a nuclear energy plant in the Persian Gulf port of Bushehr
may enable the Islamic Republic to acquire weapons of mass
destruction.
Both Tehran and Moscow have repeatedly rejected these claims, with
Iran opening the plant to regular supervision of the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which has confirmed its intention for
peaceful means.
BH/AR
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