Source: VOA News
Iran's official news agency says the country has
received a seventh shipment of nuclear fuel from Russia for its first atomic
power plant.
 |
| A general view
shows the reactor building of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, in
southern Iran (File) |
The Islamic Republic News Agency says the
consignment of 11 tons of uranium fuel rods arrived at the Bushehr plant in
southern Iran Saturday.The report says the
plant, which needs an initial supply of 82 tons of fuel, has so far received 77
tons and that the final shipment is expected soon.
Iran has said it wants the plant to begin
operating as early as the middle of this year.
Russia and the United States have said the fuel
shipments mean Iran has no need to enrich uranium on its own. But Iran insists
on continuing enrichment activities, arguing they are necessary for other
planned nuclear reactors. Highly enriched uranium can be used in building a
nuclear weapon.
The five permanent members of the U.N. Security
Council plus Germany have distributed a set of proposed new sanctions against
Iran for refusing to halt enriching uranium.
The draft resolution, which includes a new travel
ban on individuals involved in Iran's nuclear and missile programs, was given to
all Security Council members on Friday.
The six world powers agreed on the new sanctions
earlier this week at a meeting in Berlin.
The Security Council has already imposed two sets of
sanctions on Iran for its failure to suspend uranium enrichment.
Iran has said new sanctions will not stop it from
pursuing a nuclear program.
The United States and its Western allies accuse
Tehran of developing technology to produce nuclear weapons. Iran denies the
charge.
Some information for
this report was provided by AFP and AP.
