http://www.boston.com/dailynews/320/world/Russia_ships_nuclear_reactor_b:.shtml

Russia ships nuclear reactor body to Iran

By Irina Titova, Associated Press, 11/16/2001 16:18

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) The only Russian factory capable of making a complete nuclear reactor on Friday shipped its first reactor body to Iran, part of a project that has raised strong U.S. protests.

Officials presided over a ceremony at the Izhora factory in St. Petersburg dedicated to completion of the 317-ton, cylindrical reactor body for Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant.

''We are glad the three-year-long work on the reactor construction is over and thank the plant workers for their labor,'' said Mohammed Reza Zahertar, representative of the Iran Atomic Energy Organization.

Russia signed a contract in 1995 to build the first reactor at Iran's Bushehr power plant. It is to be completed by 2003 for an estimated $800 million.

Washington, which accuses Iran of sponsoring terrorism, has urged Russia to abandon construction of the reactor, fearing Iran could use the nuclear technology to develop nuclear weapons. Moscow and Tehran say the plant will be used only for civilian purposes and will be under international control.

In the past, Washington has imposed sanctions against Russian companies accused of providing missile technology to Iran.

State Department spokesman Philip Reeker on Friday reaffirmed the long-standing U.S. position. ''We believe that Iran uses Bushehr as a cover for obtaining sensitive technology to advance their nuclear weapons program,'' he said.

''We think Iran's clandestine efforts to acquire weapons grade material poses a threat.''

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said Thursday during a visit to the factory that his nation would sign a contract for a second reactor once the first is delivered, state-controlled ORT television reported. Khatami also toured Russian space mission control in Korolyov outside Moscow earlier this week, and expressed interest in buying both military and civilian aerospace technology.

-- Anonymous, November 16, 2001