| Iran and Russia are close to finalising the agreement on return of spent nuclear fuel, paving the way for Iran's first atomic power plant to become operational, reports Xinhua. Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov made an announcement to this effect at a joint news conference in this Iraqi capital Sunday. "The agreement on returning spent nuclear fuel is in the final stage. I think it will be signed soon," Lavrov said. The Bushehr nuclear reactor is being built with Russia's help in a Persian Gulf island in the southern province of Bushehr. Russia has, however, specified that the spent nuclear fuel be returned in order to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons with the spent fuel. Western countries such as Germany and Spain were formerly aiding in the construction of the plant. |