¡¡¡¡TEHRAN, Dec. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- Iran's Expediency Council Chairman Akbar
Hashemi Rafsanjani on Monday refuted recent US allegations about Iran's nuclear
program as "mere pretexts."
¡¡¡¡Rafsanjani told visiting Russian Atomic Energy Minister Alexander
Rumyantsev that Iran is a member to the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) and the agency is fully aware of all ofIran's nuclear activities.
¡¡¡¡"The use of all forms of nuclear technology for peaceful purposeis the
absolute right of all the IAEA members, including Iran," said Rafsanjani.
¡¡¡¡The former Iranian president pointed out that Iran's drive for
establishment of the plant for scientific and peaceful purposes arecurrently
questioned under various "baseless" pretexts, because Iran is independent and
cooperates with Russia instead of the West in the Bushehr plant.
¡¡¡¡Despite continued US propaganda, the world will come to witness peaceful
cooperation between Iran and Russia in future for non-military use of atomic
energy, Rafsanjani said.
¡¡¡¡Washington has voiced its suspicion that Iran may use the Bushehr plant for
developing nuclear arms. Both Iran and Russia have rejected the US allegations.
¡¡¡¡On his part, Rumyantsev reiterated that the Iran-Russia cooperation in the
field of nuclear energy was peaceful and within the framework of international
regulations.
¡¡¡¡He said Moscow is determined to complete the construction of theBushehr
nuclear power plant.
¡¡¡¡"Although Russia and Iran are criticized by certain countries for
construction of an atomic power plant, we consider ourselves duty bond to finish
the project on the power plant which is considered as Iran's undeniable right,"
said the Russian minister.
¡¡¡¡He stressed that Russia "will not give in to pretexts and ballyhoos created
by other countries with regard to the peaceful cooperation."
¡¡¡¡Rumyantsev arrived in Tehran on Sunday on a four-day visit for talks with
Iranian officials on the "speeding up" of the construction of the plant and the
Iran-Russia cooperation for peaceful use of nuclear energy.
¡¡¡¡The Russian minister will travel to Bushehr to observe construction work at
the plant. He will also discuss with Iranian officials the issue of returning
nuclear fuel waste from Iran to Russia. Enditem
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