Moscow, 19 August 2003 (RFE/RL) -- Iran told Russia yesterday that it only has peaceful motives for its nuclear program and that Tehran fully respects nuclear nonproliferation. The Russian Foreign Ministry says the assurances were given in a telephone conversation between Kamal Kharrazi and Igor Ivanov, the Iranian and Russian foreign ministers respectively.
The ministry said the two ministers also discussed numerous issues relating to Iran's nuclear program, including Tehran's "fidelity to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty" and its willingness to collaborate more broadly with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The ministers agreed to continue the discussions at upcoming talks in Tehran.
Russia is building a nuclear plant in western Iran, despite widespread worries that Tehran is using the power station project to develop a secret nuclear weapons program.
Under U.S. pressure, Russia has begun insisting on tighter Iranian guarantees against the possible use of nuclear technology for military purposes.
The ministry said the two ministers also discussed numerous issues relating to Iran's nuclear program, including Tehran's "fidelity to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty" and its willingness to collaborate more broadly with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The ministers agreed to continue the discussions at upcoming talks in Tehran.
Russia is building a nuclear plant in western Iran, despite widespread worries that Tehran is using the power station project to develop a secret nuclear weapons program.
Under U.S. pressure, Russia has begun insisting on tighter Iranian guarantees against the possible use of nuclear technology for military purposes.