France approved the launching of the reactor of the nuclear power plant in Bushehr, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said at the 18th conference of French ambassadors at the Elysee Palace, RIA Novosti reports.
Even before the launch the French Foreign Ministry said that Russian supplies of fuel to Iran is another reason why Iran should shut down its nuclear program.
On August 21st the fuel was put into the reactor, 36 years after the start of construction. The next stage is energy production.
Construction at Bushehr was started in 1974 by a German concern, Kraftwerk Union, but in 1980 the contract was broken, due to the US embargo on providing Iran with equipment. Russian specialists renewed construction in 1990s, establishing a joint venture. The power plant will be under Iranian supervision in 2-3 years. So far it is under Russian control.
The Iranian side believes that launching the power plant is a symbol of Iranian devotion to fulfilling its goals. But the launch is still at the center of attention of Western politicianswho fear Iran may use it to create nuclear arms. The Russian Foreign Ministry has excluded such a possibility.
