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Russian President Vladimir Putin welcoming Ali Akbar Velayati, an envoy of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Moscow last month. (AP) Last update - 16:44 14/03/2007 Russia: Late payments may irreversibly harm Iran nuclear plant construction By The Associated Press MOSCOW - Russia's state-run company building Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant warned Wednesday that the Iranian payment delays may cause irreversible damage to the project. "If the Iranian side doesn't resume funding for the project, the process could become irretrievable," Atomstroiexport company said in a statement, adding that it was having difficulties trying to appease subcontractors who had demanded urgent payments. The company said it would continue works in Bushehr relying on Iran to show common sense and resume funding. Advertisement On Monday, Atomstrioiexport announced the plant would not be launched in September and nuclear fuel will not be delivered to the station this month as earlier planned, due the unpaid bills. Moscow and Tehran have been bickering publicly over what Russia says are tens of millions of dollars in delayed payments for its work on Bushehr, Iran's first nuclear power station. Iran denies it has missed payments on the plant, a sensitive project as Tehran has come under pressure from the United States and the European Union over its nuclear ambitions. Without Russian uranium, the plant cannot begin generating electricity by September as planned. Iran had expected a fully operational Bushehr to boost its nuclear negotiating position. The move by Iran's key ally was a major political blow to Tehran. Russia also used unusually strong language this week to criticize Iran for failing to meet United Nations deadlines over the uranium enrichment program. While the move indicated Moscow's annoyance with Iran's intransigence, Iranian officials claimed Moscow was bowing to international pressure to take a tougher line against Tehran. The major powers in the UN Security Council are discussing a new package of sanctions against Iran and appear to be moving closer to agreement on new measures to pressure Iran to suspend uranium enrichment. Meanwhile, Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, told reporters that Iran expects Russia to fulfill its commitments and ship the fuel to Bushehr. He claimed Russia's shipment and the uranium enrichment were unrelated issues. "The Russian government should solve this problem," the state Irna news agency quoted Larijani as saying. "This issue [enrichment] is not related to Bushehr case. Tehran state-run radio said in a commentary that the Russian delay would not cost Iran anything and the country "will eventually achieve the know-how for building a (nuclear) power plant." On a trip to Moscow, U.S. Deputy Energy Secretary Clay Sell told reporters that "the actions taken by the Russian government ... are consistent with our common interests and common concerns as to what's going on in Iran." Ahmadinejad: New UN sanctions will only deepen rift with the West Meanwhile, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday warned the West that it would deepen the rift with Iran by imposing more UN sanctions in punishment for Tehran's refusal to halt its disputed nuclear program. "You are wrong if you think you can sit and draft ... something in order to isolate the Iranian nation," Ahmadinejad lashed out at the UN Security Council as he addressed several thousand people in the central Iranian city of Yazd. "Not only are you unable to hurt Iran, but you would further isolate yourselves and make yourselves more hated," he added, referring to the West. But staunchly absent from Ahmadinejad's speech was any mention of Russia's decision Monday to postpone the crucial fuel shipment to the Bushehr plant. The UN Security Council in December unanimously imposed limited sanctions against Iran for its refusal to freeze enrichment. The enrichment process can produce fuel for nuclear reactors or - if taken to a higher degree - the material for atomic bombs. After Tehran failed to meet a late February deadline to suspend enrichment under the December resolution, senior representatives of the five permanent Security Council members - Russia, China, the United States, Britain and France, along with Germany - began discussing possible new sanctions. The new package may include an embargo on arms exports and an asset freeze on more individuals and companies linked to Tehran's nuclear and missile programs. But Ahmadinejad on Wednesday said the era of Western global domination was over. He urged Western leaders to wake up from their dream-filled sleep. "They say, 'We want to isolate the Iranian nation,' but what business is it of theirs," Ahmadinejad added Bookmark to del.icio.us   Personalized workout Boutique gyms is the next big thing - for those who can pay. No to non-violence 'Human chain' against the blockade on gaza yields disappointing turnout.   1.   !!!!!!!!!! 16:38  |  noname 14/03/07   2.   Nuclear Energy or Bomb 16:47  |  Ah 14/03/07   3.   Bushehr nuclear plant unreachable for dangerous material 17:04  |  Spoon 14/03/07   4.   Is Justice Served by Irony? 17:13  |  C McCoy 14/03/07   5.   noname 17:14  |  Mark Lincoln 14/03/07   6.   Ah 17:17  |  Mark Lincoln 14/03/07   7.   #1 No name 17:18  |  Infidel 14/03/07   8.   # 2 Israel may come to it senses and deal with the Iran as 17:18  |  OBSERVER 14/03/07   9.   High Time For The Iranian Bleeders (Er, I Mean Leaders) To ... 17:19  |  Lavi 14/03/07   10.   Iran wants Saudi Oil 17:21  |  RickD 14/03/07   11.   iranian cry babies 17:21  |  ross 14/03/07   12.   This will irritate Clickfool no end ;) 17:51  |  Zardos 14/03/07   13.   pity 17:53  |  rl 14/03/07   14.   I forgot... 17:54  |  Infidel 14/03/07   15.   Mark: #5: no politics here 18:03  |  Paul Freedman 14/03/07   16.   Persians don`t have palestinian luck 18:31  |  Chick Corea 14/03/07   17.   Iran Russia 19:58  |  my opinion 14/03/07   18.   So many drug addicts in Iran it`s scary 20:04  |  O` Reilly 14/03/07   19.   # 1 noname 20:35  |  Lynn 14/03/07   20.   don`t believe the hype 20:41  |  don 14/03/07   21.   WATCH CHINA 20:43  |  TOBIA 14/03/07   22.   Russia extorting more money from Iran before UN vote 20:46  |  Joe 14/03/07   23.   To Ross 20:53  |  Persian Kitty 14/03/07   24.   #21 TOBIA 21:03  |  Lynn 14/03/07   25.   # 22 Joe in Ramallah 21:05  |  Lynn 14/03/07   26.   This is an indication about Russia and $$ 21:14  |  Rafa 14/03/07   27.   YOU CAN`T TRUST THE RUSSKIES 21:40  |  Vladimir X 14/03/07   28.   Mach 2.5 Enough? 02:35  |  Neal Tobia 26/02/08   29.   What just happened in the markets! 02:38  |  Neal Tobia 26/02/08   30.   Cry babies more! 02:42  |  Neal Tobia 26/02/08

Today Online Gaza protest of Israeli siege yields disappointing turnout Responses: 340 Bradley Burston: Palestine's doomsday weapon - non-violence - fails its test Responses: 130 Canadian Jew loses bid to have 'Jerusalem, Israel' in passport Responses: 86 Obama`s top adviser: Israel and Arabs must negotiate own peace Responses: 90 Akiva Eldar: AIPAC does not even bother to rally for two-state solution Responses: 43 Rosner's Domain "Reasonable people can agree or disagree on meeting Ahmadinejad" Clinton allies say: Obama bad for Israel (WTR) Iran Could Have Enough Uranium for a Bomb by Year's End (WTR) Poll: Is it time for Israel to end the blockade in Gaza? McCain, a supporter of Israel with a 'Judeophile' brother More Headlines 03:10 U.K. diplomat: Iran nuclear work may have continued past 2003 03:08 Olmert aides: Demonstration in Gaza 'much ado about nothing' 03:14 2 IDF troops hurt while testing weapons seized from Hezbollah 02:13 Report: Widow of slain Hezbollah terrorist blames Syria for killing 01:39 Will Obama be supportive of an Israel controlled by a Likud government? 22:24 Police call beating outside former Jewish fraternity 'hate crime' 00:39 Kadima MKs adopt uniform stance against division of Jerusalem 21:18 Ramon: PM wants accord with West Bank settlers on unauthorized outposts 20:06 American tourist drowns in flash flood near Dead Sea 18:46 Woman, two children hurt in Qassam strike on Sderot 21:26 Knesset okays mandatory jail sentence for violence against the elderly Previous Editions Select Day 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb

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