Russian nuke fuel shipment strengthens strategic ties: Iran

The first shipment of nuclear fuel for Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant by Russia will strengthen strategic ties between Tehran and Moscow.

Iran received its first nuclear fuel from Russia after a long delay on Monday, paving the way for the startup of its 1000-megawatt Bushehr light-water reactor in 2008. Both the US and Russia now say that with the shipment, the Iranians would no longer have any reason to produce enriched uranium that could be used to build a nuclear weapon. However, Iran says it would continue its enrichment activities at a separate facility, in the central city of Natanz, to provide fuel for another light-water 360-megawatt nuclear reactor being built in the southwestern town of Darkhovin. Russian President, Vladimir Putin, finalized the date for shipment of nuclear fuel to Iran during a landmark visit to Iran. Iran says it plans to expand its enrichment programme to up to 54,000 centrifuges at Natanz and is fully within its rights to pursue the enrichment to produce fuel under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.
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