Russia's Iran reactor 'delayed'

Russia's timetable for Bushehr, agreed two years ago, seems to be slipping Russia has said a new nuclear reactor it is building at Bushehr in southern Iran will not be completed by the end of the year as planned.Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said the delay in launching the plant, which cannot be used for nuclear weapons, was for "technical reasons". On Sunday, Russia and the US warned Iran that time was running out for talks over its nuclear programme. The West suspects Iran wants to build weapons, but Tehran rejects the claim. It says its programme is entirely peaceful. The UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, is expected to unveil its latest report on Iran's nuclear programme later on Monday.

"BUSHEHR NUCLEAR PLANT Begun in 1974 with German assistance Work halts after Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution Resumed in 1992 with Russian help Dec 2007: Russia and Iran agree to finish plant after numerous delays Two pressurised water reactors Cost: $1bn (£600m) But Mr Shmatko said that while progress had been made there would be no launch"The report will cover Iran's enrichment activities and findings from the newly-revealed nuclear site near Qom. 'Serious results'Russian officials said earlier in the year that the Bushehr plant would be completed by its end. BUSHEHR NUCLEAR PLANT Begun in 1974 with German assistance Work halts after Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution Resumed in 1992 with Russian help Dec 2007: Russia and Iran agree to finish plant after numerous delays Two pressurised water reactors Cost: $1bn (£600m) But Mr Shmatko said that while progress had been made there would be no launch. "We expect serious results by the end of the year, but the launch itself will not take place," Russian media quoted him as saying. The Bushehr nuclear plant was first planned with German help in 1974, but was shelved after the Islamic Revolution.

Russia took up the project in 1992, and after numerous delays a timetable for construction was finalised two years ago. The plan is to build two pressurised water reactors. Any nuclear fuel from the plant will be brought from and returned to Russia so that it cannot be used for a weapons' programme. GuaranteesSpeaking on Sunday after talks with his US counterpart Barack Obama, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he was unhappy with the pace of talks. NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE Mined uranium ore is purified and reconstituted into solid form known as yellowcake Yellowcake is converted into a gas by heating it to about 64C (147F) Gas is fed through centrifuges, where its isotopes separate and the process is repeated until uranium is enriched Low-level enriched uranium is used for nuclear fuel In depth: Nuclear fuel cycle Mr Obama said Iran had failed "so far at least" to respond positively to a deal to send enriched uranium abroad for reprocessing.

"GuaranteesSpeaking on Sunday after talks with his US counterpart Barack Obama, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he was unhappy with the pace of talks"Russia and France have offered to do this. Under the plan brokered by the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, and agreed by Russia, the US and France, Iran would send about 1,200kg (2,600lb), or 70%, of its low-enriched uranium, to Russia by the year's end for processing. Subsequently, France would convert the uranium into fuel rods for use in a reactor in Tehran that produces medical isotopes. This is seen as a way for Iran to get the fuel it needs, while giving guarantees to the West that it will not be used for nuclear weapons. Iran has raised "technical and economic considerations" with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and has missed deadlines to respond.

Iran revealed the existence of a secret nuclear facility in September. Mr Obama's administration has set an end-of-year deadline for serious progress towards a comprehensive solution. Correspondents say Russia and China are reluctant to agree to new Security Council sanctions, so a coalition of countries, including the EU, might take action themselves. Iran is already subject to UN sanctions, including financial scrutiny and restrictions on arms imports, for keeping uranium enrichment activities at its Natanz plant secret