Opinion: Discrepancies regarding Bushehr NPP are result of complicated situation with Iranian nuclear program

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Member of the Russian State Duma, deputy head of the Energy, Transport and Communications Commission Yuri Sentyurin suggests that the dispute over the Bushehr NPP in Iran is to be considered from two angles: the first one is non-fulfillment of payment obligations by Iran; the second one is the conflict over Iranian nuclear program. Sentyurin made the statement talking to a REGNUM correspondent today, commenting on the negotiation process between the Russian and Iranian governments and Rosatom’s statement that the schedule of launching the plant and first nuclear fuel supply will be revised.

“It is said that the talks held in Moscow and yesterday in Tehran showed no substantial progress.” The statements that continue coming from Rosatom and the general contractor AtomStroyExport mean, first of all, that continuation of works is impossible without payment. “In this connection, time limits for launching the plant planned for September 2007 and nuclear fuel supply that was supposed to be conducted half a year before the launching – in March, will be automatically postponed,” the MP explained. The Russian side, however, while expecting payments, will continue works – those, absence of which can result in irreversible consequences for the construction site, Sentyurin noted.

At the same time, he finds the events regarding the Bushehr NPP as “results of the complicated situation over the Iranian nuclear program.” “Russia’s commitments cannot be considered out of the context of international relations,” he believes. “The construction is held under IAEA control and if the reaction to Iran’s decision to enrich uranium takes the form of international sanctions, it will definitely affect pace of the NPP construction.”

At the same time, Sentyurin says that the talks are not finished yet, and “nobody will dare to predict in what they will result.” He reminded that the two parties are ready for the negotiation process and that the construction was not suspended, “but there is serious tension and it can be felt.”

As REGNUM reported before, on March 12 the Russian side announced that the schedule of inaugurating the NPP will be postponed, as Iran has not paid money within two months to the Russian general contractor on the project, AtomStroyExport. Now the talks are continuing in Tehran.