Iran welcomed Wednesday Russia's approval of a ten-year nuclear cooperation program, despite the repeated protests from the United States that such cooperation could help the Islamic republic develop nuclear weapons, IRNA said.
"The development of bilateral relations in all domains between Iran and Russia is aimed at promoting peace, stability, and regional economic development," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi said. "The declaration of the Russian government to go ahead with ten years of cooperation in the scientific, industrial and economic domains is in line with this," Asefi added.
Additionally, he said a visit from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Tehran in return for a visit made by Iran's President Mohammed Khatami to Moscow in 2000 would strengthen and develop bilateral relations.
In the meantime, on Wednesday, United States Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham and Russian Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev held talks in Moscow, with a US State Department spokesman saying the US was "disturbed" about the program and would bring the matter up during the meetings. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
