Sanctions not to affect Bushehr plant

A decree by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev restricting cooperation with Iran does not include the Bushehr nuclear plant, a Russian official says.

“The Russian president has signed a decree adhering to the sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council. But since the Bushehr project was pushed out of these sanctions, correspondingly any restrictions under this sanction list do not refer to the project. This project will be accomplished at the end,” RIA Novosti quoted the spokesman of the Russian Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom), Sergei Novikov, as saying.

On Wednesday, Medvedev signed a decree prohibiting the shipments to Iran of S-300 missile systems as well as armored vehicles, warplanes and warships in line with US-engineered UN Security Council sanctions against the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program.

Russia’s top presidential aide, Sergei Prikhodko, also said on Wednesday that the construction of Iran’s first nuclear power plant in Bushehr will not be affected by a Russian presidential decree banning weapon delivery to Iran.

“We have never considered any restrictions (on Bushehr plant construction), because the Bushehr project is being implemented under the full supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency,” Prikhodko said.