Russia blow for Iran nuclear reactor

Moscow has dashed Iranian hopes that a Russian-built nuclear reactor will be switched on this year, a blow to Tehran amid persistent tension over its nuclear program.

Officials in Russia and Iran had previously announced plans to switch on the reactor at the southern port of Bushehr this year, giving Iran its first operating nuclear power plant decades after construction started.

Iranian lawmakers criticised Russia for stepping back from that timetable. One called it unacceptable and urged Russia to set a firm date for starting the reactor, which Moscow appears to be using as a lever in nuclear diplomacy with Iran.

"We expect serious results by the end of the year, but the launch itself will not happen," Russia's state-run RIA Novosti news agency quoted Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko as saying. ITAR-Tass and Interfax had similar reports.

According to the reports, Shmatko blamed the delay on technical issues, but analysts say Moscow has used the project to press Tehran to ease its defiance over its nuclear program.

Iran says the program is purely peaceful, while the US and allies claim Tehran is working to develop nuclear weapons.

Russia also says Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons, but it has close ties with Tehran and has used its position as a veto-wielding permanent UN Security Council member to water down Western-backed sanctions.

Shmatko's remarks came a day after US President Barack Obama pushed for continued pressure on Iran and its nuclear program.

During talks with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in Singapore, Obama said that "time is running out" for Iran to sign on to a deal with the International Atomic Energy Agency.