RUSSIA:Russia has threatened to break with Iran as growing nuclear tensions look set to delay, or possibly halt, construction of a controversial nuclear power plant at Bushehr on the Gulf Coast.
Moscow yesterday hinted that it may back tough new sanctions at the UN, the strongest signal yet of Russia's gradual switch towards supporting American efforts to isolate Tehran. Washington fears the Iranian regime wants nuclear weapons, not just electricity, as it insists.
The state-owned Russian firm that is building the plant warned this week that payment delays by Iran would make it impossible to complete the plant and commission it by the September deadline.
Atomstroiexport also said nuclear fuel would not be delivered as planned this month because of the row. Without the Russian fuel, the plant cannot become operational, as part of an international understanding. There are suspicions that the payments issue may be part of a wider strategic decision by Russia to distance itself from Tehran. In the latest leaks to the State-owned Tass news agency, unnamed officials said Russia was suffering "losses in relation to its foreign policy and image" from co-operating with Iran.
Tehran played down the impasse yesterday. "We believe with negotiations this issue can be solved," a spokesman said.