A reactor building of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant

The agreement, signed by the two countries' nuclear energy chiefs at the Bushehr atomic reactor, came as Iran faced heightened pressure from the United States, which accuses it of secretly developing nuclear weapons.

Iran denies the charge and has received strong backing from Moscow, which is keen to play a major role in the country's nuclear energy program.

The proposed fuel-supply agreement contains restrictions that would require Iran to return all spent fuel to Russia after using it. That requirement is intended to prevent Tehran from obtaining material to build nuclear bombs from the new reactor at Bushehr.

The Japan Times Weekly: March 5, 2005
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