Moscow, June 20: Russian president Vladimir Putin said today that his Iranian counterpart had assured him that Tehran was not producing or trying to procure nuclear weapons. Putin told a news conference that Iranian president Mohammad Khatami had assured him in a telephone call two days ago that his country does not strive to have any nuclear weapons and that it was prepared to sign any protocols required by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
"The Iranian leadership is ready to fully meet all the IAEA's demands regarding control over its nuclear program," Putin said.
Russia has a USD 800 million contract to build a nuclear power plant in Iran and insists US. Fears that the project could help Tehran develop nuclear weapons are unfounded.
Under US pressure, Russia has urged Iran to open itself up to broader nuclear inspections, but it has not made fulfillment of the power plant contract contingent on Tehran's signing of an additional IAEA protocol that would provide the UN organisation with greater access.
Putin warned against pressuring Russia to abandon the Bushehr Contract, saying that Russia was against ``using the nuclear card in unfair competition on the Iranian market.'' Bureau Report