"The New York Times," quoting anonymous sources, reports that Russia has threatened to withhold fuel for Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant unless Tehran suspends its uranium-enrichment program, as the UN Security Council demands.
The newspaper said March 19 that the ultimatum was delivered in Moscow last week by Igor Ivanov, the secretary of Russia's National Security Council, to Ali Hosseini Tash, Iran's deputy chief nuclear negotiator. The report cited European, U.S., and Iranian officials speaking on condition of anonymity.
But Tash today denied that Russia had issued an ultimatum. He told state radio that Russia had in fact tried to convince him that the Bushehr issue is not linked to the standoff over Iran's nuclear program.
The Russian state-run firm helping Iran build the Bushehr plant announced this month it was halting planned deliveries of uranium fuel because of what it said was Iran's failure to pay on time.
Tehran ignored a UN deadline on February 21 to suspend its uranium-enrichment activities, which the West fears could be used to build nuclear weapons.
Iran insists its nuclear program is solely for energy.
Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
