The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Tehran

No date has been fixed for completing Iran's first nuclear power plant but Russia is serious about finishing the long-delayed project, Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.

The United States has urged Russia to stop building the Bushehr power plant in southwest Iran because it believes the $1 billion project is part of Iran's bid to master technology that can be used to make nuclear weapons. Tehran denies the charge and says its nuclear program has only peaceful goals.

Moscow has used the project as a lever in its ties with Tehran, repeatedly putting back the completion date and citing payment delays. Russia says it sees no evidence Iran is seeking to build atomic bombs.

Speaking after Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov met in Moscow, the Russian contractor said on Thursday differences were resolved and a timetable agreed but he did not give a date for completion.