Iran's Foreign Ministry Monday rejected the remarks of a Russian military official that Iran is equipped with required facilities to develop nuclear weapons, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said that the unidentified Russian general had not been aware of Iran's peaceful use of nuclear activities when he made the remarks.
He further reiterated that Iran's nuclear activities in the Bushehr power plant in southwestern Iran never undermine the non-proliferation regime, adding that they fully comply with the requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The United States has claimed that Russian assistance to Iran toconstruct the Bushehr nuclear energy plant may enable Iran to acquire weapons of mass destruction. Both Iran and Russia have repeatedly rejected the claims.
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said in May that Iran's nuclear energy facilities, built with Russian assistance in the Persian gulf port of Bushehr, was under regular supervision of the IAEA, which has confirmed Iran's intention for peaceful means.
(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2002)
