Russia clears way
for Iran nuke plant

Russia is ready, willing and able to complete the construction of Iran's nuclear plant following an agreement between the countries to return spent fuel rods to Moscow.

Iran's use of nuclear power is the focus of increasing concern worldwide because of the Islamist nation's commitment to a uranium enrichment that could lead to the development of nuclear weaponry.

The Russian atomic energy agency said today it would sign a key agreement with Iran on the return of nuclear fuel later this month that would complete Moscow's construction of the Islamic state's first nuclear power plant.

The ITAR-TASS news agency quoted the agency's spokesman, Nikolai Shingaryov, as saying that the elusive agreement, which has been delayed for over a year, would be signed during atomic energy chief Alexander Rumyantsev visit to Iran scheduled in two weeks.

"We plan to sign, in Tehran, an additional protocol on the return of spent nuclear fuel to Russia," the spokesman was quoted as saying.

The fuel's return has remained the key impediment to the $800 million Bushehr project.

Russia and the West both fear Iran could reprocess the spent fuel delivered from Russia by upgrading it through centrifuges to make a nuclear weapon.

Tehran has in the past used various arguments to avoid signing the agreement. It has said the material was too dangerous to transport back to Russia and that it was being charged too much for the fuel itself.

Earlier today, in response to statements by President Bush about Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons, Iranian President Mohammed Khatami warned his country would turn into a "scorching hell" for any possible attackers.

Khatami's comments, before a crowd of tens of thousands gathered on a snowy square in Tehran to mark the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, came amid an escalating exchange of rhetoric between the United States and Iran. Washington accuses Tehran of maintaining a nuclear weapons program, which Iran says is for peaceful energy purposes.

"Will this nation allow the feet of an aggressor to touch this land?" Khatami asked at the crowd. "If, God forbid, it happens, Iran will turn into a scorching hell for the aggressors."

His statements drew chants of "Death to America!" from the crowd.

"The Iranian nation is not looking for war, violence and confrontation," Khatami said.

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