Viktor Opekunov, chairman of the State Duma Sub-Committee on Nuclear Energy

– Political reasons are decisive in the situation over Bushehr NPP project

The chairman of the State Duma Sub-Committee on Nuclear Energy Viktor Opekunov is sure that political reasons are decisive in the situation over non-payments under the Bushehr NPP project.

During a press-conference on Mar 12 he said that Iran has already confirmed its reluctance to fulfill its financial obligations according to the current schedule and has thereby made impossible Russia’s compliance with the plan: to launch the plant in Sept and to supply fuel in Mar.

Commenting on the apprehensions of some experts that what Iran is actually interested in is nuclear fuel supplies rather than NPP construction, Opekunov explained: “The Russian fuel cannot be turned into a nuclear bomb, At least, Iran has no technology for doing that.”

“I don’t think that the financial reasons are decisive for Tehran. I think that Iran’s motives are of political nature: they have repeatedly stated that they are going to develop peaceful nuclear energy and now, all of a sudden, they are acting illogically.”

Opekunov noted that Russia is ready to comply with the contract.

To remind, on Mar 12 Rosatom said that the schedule of the Bushehr NPP construction will be revised because of two-month non-payment by the Iranian side. The sides have been negotiating the problem since Mar 7: first in Moscow and then in Tehran. However, they have not yet agreed on the resumption of the financing.