US suggests nuclear co-operation with Iran should stop

In an apparent reference to Russia, the US today urged governments to end nuclear projects with Iran in light of a recent finding that Tehran is not complying with the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

Stephen Rademaker, assistant US secretary of state for arms control, told a UN committee that nations must adjust national policies as a result of a September 24 International Atomic Energy Agency resolution that found Iran in non-compliance because of its past covert activities.

“We think it’s self-evident, for example, that in the face of such a finding, no government should permit new nuclear transfers to Iran and all ongoing nuclear projects should be frozen,” Rademaker told a UN General Assembly First Committee session to discuss disarmament issues.

Rademaker did not mention Russia by name, but Russia has a £454 million contract to build a nuclear reactor in the city of Bushehr. Russia has trained about 700 Iranian nuclear engineers, and several dozen Iranian experts are in training at a nuclear power plant in the country’s southwest.

Asked later if he would urge Russia directly to end its co-operation with Iran, Rademaker said: “I think the statement I gave today speaks for itself.”

US President George Bush’s administration has long urged Russia to call off the Bushehr programme over concerns that the reactor could help Tehran develop nuclear weapons. Yet US officials had recently accepted Russian assurances that no enrichment or reprocessing would take place, especially after a deal that required any spent fuel rods to be returned to Russia.

Russia’s Foreign Minister refused immediate comment on Rademaker’s remarks.

Iran insists its nuclear programme is for energy purposes, while the US suspects Iran is trying to build atomic bombs.

“IAEA investigations have exposed almost two decades of clandestine nuclear work, as well as a pattern of evasion and deception that can only be explained as part of an illegal nuclear weapons programme,” Rademaker said.

Last week’s International Atomic Energy Agency board resolution put off a decision on whether to refer Iran to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions. The board hopes that will give Tehran time to meet its demands, which included a call on Iran to end uranium conversion – a precursor of enrichment - and commit to freezing all enrichment plans.

Russia abstained at the IAEA board’s vote and has said it opposes imposing sanctions on Iran. Earlier today, it urged Iran not to suspend co-operation on inspections by the UN nuclear watchdog.